Phase 2 begins

Today is the day.

Barbados officially emerges from its 24-hour lockdown and restricted daytime movement as the island enters Phase 2 of its reopening.

The policy, which was announced by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley during an address to the nation last Wednesday night, will see the list of accepted and approved companies reopening from today.

Everything that was allowed to function in Phase One – everything that can be carried out fully at home, on-line – will now be joined by construction and mining, landscaping services, food and beverages, manufacturing and retailing, supermarket, finance and insurance, legal, accounting and other professional services to support businesses, tradesmen (like joiners and upholsterers and welding workshops), automotive stores and workshops, landscaping, garden and pool operations, electronic stores, other than for mobile ICT, retailers of baby products, building supplies, beauty supply stores, health and medicine services, office equipment and supplies, pet services and supplies, safety equipment, security products and services, marine product distributors, education suppliers, dry cleaning and laundry services, distribution and printing supplies and delivery companies.

Also effective today, the following will pertain:
i. Those government offices which have been functioning over the curfew period will continue to do so with their regular staff numbers. These include the General Post Office, National Insurance Department and Customs and Immigration Departments.

ii. Other government entities which provide functions deemed critical at this time will re- commence operations with regular staffing complements to provide full services. Some staff will work from the office and others remotely in a flexible arrangement.Ministry of Transport Works and Maintenance; and the Lands Surveys Department in the Ministry of Housing and Rural Development are supportive of the kinds of targeted construction activities.

iii. Wider public service will reopen with minimal staff on May 4 and will provide basic services initially. These entities will increase their staffing complements and services provided, in the coming weeks, as the situation allows. Those offices which will operate with partial staffing initially include units such as the Town and Country Planning Department and the Urban Development Commission; Units in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment including the Public Investment Unit; and the Rural Development Commission in the Ministry of Housing, Lands and Rural Development.

Though some may see this move as the beginning of freedom, many also believe that caution and safety are more important at this time. Others still, who considered the 24-hour curfew a period of rest and relaxation, may now have to say goodbye to the peace and quiet of being at home with family without the added stress of work pressures. Time will tell however, if the start of phase 2 will see the resumption of traffic congestion and if the partial re-opening of the island will mean an end to the slow pace to which many of us have become accustomed.

In her address last week, Prime Minister Mottley also cautioned employers to provide a safe environment for workers to return, including added hygiene care resources and the adherence to social distancing procedures. However, one of the concerns that has emerged is those companies which have not only air-conditioned offices, but also have central air-conditioning systems, where it could be possible for the virus to spread easily with just one sneeze.

It is indeed a nervous notion of reopening, especially with cases still being discovered, but the need for the engine of the economy to start turning over is important. Some form of business is needed to save the economy from falling deeper into the COVID-19 crisis. The government has provided economic stimulus packages to help individuals, businesses and sectors, but now it is the turn of the people to step up as they did when heeding to the health measures instituted by the government. Now is the time to see if those who listened and also those who complained can pull their weight, masked up, in ensuring that this partial re-opening is a safe and successful one and move Barbados further towards a full recovery. (AS)