by Linda Straker
- Call for citizens to stop behaving as if every shopping day is last day for food to be available
- New measures include immediate self-quarantine or isolation of all persons arriving from 9 March
- Fixed penalty for those who violate curfew regulation
Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell, has given the assurance that Grenada is not facing an imminent food shortage and has called on citizens to stop behaving as if every shopping day is the last day for food to be available.
“From the standpoint of our suppliers, our grocery store owners and the Ministry of Agriculture, we are not facing an imminent shortage of food,” he said a news conference on Monday as he spoke to the nation about the ongoing work of the Covid-19 Response Committee.
“I get the impression that some of us believe that this is the last day to get some items, so I really urge you not to behave as if this is the last day that food will be available. From all reports there is enough supply out there if we all are disciplined enough to get it when we need it,” he said in his opening statement.
Speaking about the section of the regulations which mandates that shop owners must make provision to ensure the 6 feet social or physical distancing is applied on designated shopping days, Dr Mitchell who is also the Minister for National Security, expressed his unhappiness that such action must be legally enforced. “It is no comfort to me and members of your government to watch you in long lines at supermarkets. It is painful for me and for those of us in government.”
He said that based on current health protocols there is no perfect solution to the Covid-19 pandemic that has infected more than a million worldwide and cause the death of thousands. “We will continue to explore best practice with one goal, to keep the people of this nation safe,” he said while informing the nation on the new regulations which provide for another phase of 24-hour mandatory curfew effective 6-20 April 2020.
Like the two previous regulations, citizens who are not in the essential workers category must confine themselves to their homes. New measures include the immediate self-quarantine or isolation of all persons arriving on the island from 9 March, and the charging of fixed penalty for those who violate the curfew regulation.
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We need the banks to be opened at least once per week, and maybe we can do the same alphabetical order.
There IS a food shortage for those who queued but was unable to get inside the store and shop.
The government is making the situation worse. If you concentrate all shopping in a few hours, of course much more people will be in contact with each other – and for much longer – than would be the case with normal shopping hours. This is absurd and counterproductive.
Supermarkets if anything should be the only establishments open daily, if you only get to shop once a week, then expect panic wtf,plp should be allowed to shop daily, or every 2 days atleast, unless the country is about to face food difficulties…
True!
For a small population, there is no need for anyone to be shopping this regular under these circumstances. No matter where you are on this planet, there will always be individuals or groups with menacing attributes, and ulterior motives. Let us be responsible citizens.
STAY SAFE! STAY INSIDE!
Could you allow the stores to be open 8-12pm and select different last names to go on different days in an effort to spread people out? Eg: Surnames beginning with A-E go on Monday, F-J Tuesday, K-O Wednesday, P-T Thursday and U-Z Friday…or something similar…
Good idea!
what do you expect, one shopping day per week. no wonder people are behaving the way they are. those in charge need to use a bit of common sense.
If people allow to go shopping as frequently as they please then rush for food wont happen. No one can assure me or the population that treat us will respect. Please.
Why can’t we have 2hours shopping every day to stop the mass gathering on allocated shopping days?