By Sue-Ann Wayow
BEACHES are not yet open to the public but food stalls along the seafront are excited to re-open today after a long, strict lockdown period.
Many along the popular Maracas Bay were sprucing up for today’s re-opening, making necessary adjustments for the take-away service when AZPNews.com visited on Saturday.
On Sunday, the Ministry of Health issued a press release confirming the prime minister’s announcement Saturday that takeaway food service would be available from today (July 19).
The Ministry of Health stated, “The Minister of Health hereby authorises the sale and offer for sale of food and drink by restaurants and street vendors by means of pick-up, curb side pick-up and drive-through, only, until further notice, Monday through Sunday.”
The ministry further stated, “Pursuant to Regulation 3(11) of the Emergency Powers (No. 2) Regulations, 2021, with effect from Monday 19th July 2021, the Minister of Health hereby authorises restaurants, caterers and persons in the food industry to supply or distribute prepared meals for sale to: supermarkets, groceries, markets, green grocers, bakeries, poultry depots, retail membership discount stores, wholesale stores for the provision of food, medicine or other necessities of life, pharmacies, convenience marts attached to petroleum stations, except where authorised by the Minister or persons ordering catered orders only, until further notice, Monday through Sunday.”
Last Thursday, there was a rush for Covid-19 vaccines by restaurant workers and those in the food industry as the sector prepared for the re-opening and the ministry allocated vaccines specifically for that sector.
Bake and shark staff vaccinated
Richard Ferguson, owner of Richard’s Bake and Shark at Maracas told AZPNews.com that his staff and himself were vaccinated.
He said he supported the healthcare system and all necessary protocols will be in place at his establishment on the beach.
Over the weekend, he was adding a footpath to ensure customers were more comfortable when they come to make their purchases.
“We are extending the footpath because there may be more customers and because of the mud since we are in the rainy season. We would like to see our customers when they come out their vehicle, they would not have much sand and all of those things to deal with,” Ferguson said.
He added, “It has been a long time since we have closed up and we welcome this opening of the food industry. It will enhance business, it will enhance employment. A lot of people are unemployed presently.”
Ferguson said because of the imposed curfew that remains in effect, his opening hours will be from 9am to 6pm since most of his staff lives along the north-coast and sometimes there is difficulty for transportation.
But he is encouraging all who may take a drive along that scenic path to not be afraid to stop and patronage the vendors.
An obvious positive but great challenge
Chief executive officer of the Dachin Group of Companies that owns several restaurants, Derek Chin described the re-opening as “an obvious positive.”
He told AZPNews.com, “We are all happy that some reduction in these difficult restrictions have now taken place and we can now move forward to getting back to some degree of normalcy.
“The population and the business community have been asked to make immense sacrifices and hopefully there will be a serious sense of responsibility to keep things safe and on the positive track by following the protocols and getting as many persons vaccinated.”
He is hoping that soon there will be the reopening of in house dining, cinemas and more businesses.
“It will not entirely go away so we have to do our utmost to keep it under control but at the same time get the country back on track. This will be the greatest challenge as the economy and suffering of the people has been damaged significantly but hopefully not irrevocably. Every day in this shut down mode makes the Covid victorious and our challenges more difficult,” Chin said.
The best defence against the Covid-19 virus was following the health protocols and becoming vaccinated, he said.
