Established October 1895 It’s red…red…red! Monday March 16, 2020 $1 VAT Inclusive RETAILERS ENCOURAGED TO KEEP PRICES DOWN AS the COVID-19 virus spreads throughout the world, a local government minister is not only urging Barbadians not to panic, but is putting the case to retailers and wholesalers in this country not to jack up their prices. Minister of Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Commerce, Dwight Sutherland issued the appeal while speaking to The Barbados Advocate yesterday morning, on the sidelines of a service at Love and Light Ministries, which is based at the St. George Secondary School, to mark World Consumer Rights Day. Sutherland noted that while Barbados remained virus free, with the spread of the novel coronavirus in the Caribbean, persons living here have been stocking up on goods including hand sanitisers and other disinfecting products, which he ad- mitted has resulted in such items being in short supply. However, the Commerce Minister says stock is on its way and he is hopeful that no exorbitant prices will be charged when those items reach here. “We believe the way to address this is to have consultation with the With concerns growing about the novel coronavirus, the congregation at Love and Light Ministries, linked arms instead of stakeholders and involve the retailers holding hands during yesterday’s service. Here, Dwight Sutherland (right), Minister of Small Business, Entrepreneurship and suppliers. There is a tendency in the and Commerce, links arms with Co-Pastor, Kathyann Harewood. international world for people to engage in price gouging; we have not seen it here and the Barbados Chamber of Commerce protect the consumer. World Consumer stock is on its way. and we have asked the retailers not to do and Industry is set to meet today with re- Rights Day is being celebrated today However, he went on to say that while this. If it is one time that you should be tailers, suppliers and distributors of (Sunday) and I would urge the retailers government is confident with the current sympathetic to consumers – it is now – goods and services, to come up with a and frontline importers of goods into this state of affairs, they are also cognisant when you have a public health plan for the next three to six months. country,to understand that now is not the that some of the countries that emergency which is worldwide,” he “There was a case where we saw a price time to increase prices. Now is the time distributors buy food stuff and supplies said. move from $20 to $27 at a supermarket, to show solidarity with your customers, from, are likely to have challenges with He continued, “As the Prime Minister but that was because of the increase in because they are the ones that will be not being able to ship some of the items had asked when we were restructuring the supplier price and not the supermar- impacted significantly if this virus that we import. As such, he said govern- our debt to take some of the burden, ket itself. Whether the retailers can impacts this country.” ment is being proactive and has come up we are asking the suppliers to be absorb those increase prices from the Sutherland’s comments came as he with a strategy to grow our food and sympathetic to the consumers.” suppliers is left to be seen, but we indicated that a check on the supermar- where possible to boost poultry With that in mind, he said they have will be working with the suppliers kets by his ministry with regard to production,s to ensure there is an asked the retailers not to increase prices, and wholesalers, to be mindful of food supplies, show that they are adequate supply of protein on the island. and have thus far had cordial discussions increasing the prices to the end users,” well-equipped should coronavirus hit. He “We are not panicking as a government with those stakeholders. His comments he said. stated some supermarkets have four to and we urge the public not to panic,” he came as he revealed that his ministry He added,“Our duty as a ministry is to five months of supplies and additional stated. (JRT) Put our people first, says Democratic Labour Party THE Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is while the political party understands and have to interact with visitors or clean isolated. urging Government, if it has not already appreciates the desire to keep Barbados their waste, are afforded the utmost “This is not acceptable. The welfare of done so, to ensure that all frontline work- open for business as long as possible, PPE personal protection and consideration,” Barbadians must be paramount. The ers at our ports of entry and across the for such persons is essential now. she said. Government is urged to put people before tourism industry are given the appropri- “As the virus creeps closer to this De Peiza made the point while reflect- economics and safeguard all workers at ate personal protective equipment island, we hold the view that the time has ing on one of the cases in the Caribbean. our ports of entry,” she stated. (PPE) to shield them from the novel passed when the frontline workers in She said that the person was in transit Expanding on her comments to coronavirus. national security, as well as passenger through Barbados and it is understood The Barbados Advocate, the attorney said In a statement released yesterday, the agents working for local management that none of the local staff wore protective DLP’s President Verla De Peiza, said that companies and all other staff who may gear and neither were they tested nor PROTECT on Page 3 2 • Monday March 16, 2020 The Barbados Advocate CARICOM High Level Team arrives in Guyana A CARICOM High Level Team is now in Guyana to supervise the re- counting of ballots from the coun- try’s March 2, 2020 Elections. CARICOM Chairman, Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados, on Saturday announced that Guyana’s President David Granger made a request for the Caribbean Community to field an Independent High-Level Team to super- vise the recounting of the ballots in all Regions, and that this was agreed to by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo. “I’ve spoken directly to both the President and Leader of the Opposition and they have both committed to abide by the results of a fair and transparent recount of each and every ballot, as supervised by the CARICOM Team,” the CARICOM Chairman said. The Independent High level team is chaired by the former Attorney-General and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Dominica, Francine Baron, and comprises former Minister of Finance of Grenada, Anthony Boatswain; Senior Lecturer in the Department of Government of UWI, Cynthia Barrow- Giles; Chief Electoral Officer of Barbados, The Independent High-Level Mission (from left): Angela Taylor, Chief Electoral Officer, Barbados; Anthony Boatswain, Angela Taylor; and Chief Elections former Finance Minister, Grenada; Francine Baron, Chair of the Team and former Attorney General and Foreign Minister, Officer of Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica; Fern Nacis-Scope, Chief Elections Officer, Trinidad and Tobago; Cynthia Barrow-Giles, Senior Lecturer, Fern Narcis-Scope. Department of Government, UWI. BHTA to focus on COVID-19 at first quarterly meeting tomorrow IN light of the impact of the global Anton Best, Chief Medical Officer (Ag) tion of bookings and millions of dollars to the threat of the virus.” spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Dr. Manohar Singh, Medical Officer in loss of revenue as a result, which is During the Promotech-sponsored on its members and the island’s tourism of Health (Ports), both of the Ministry of a major concern, especially at this time meeting, Chairman of the BHTA industry, the Barbados Hotel and Health and Wellness. of year. We have been communicating Stephen Austin will also give remarks Tourism Association (BHTA) will focus CEO of the BHTA, Senator Rudy with them and are fully committed while Senator Grant will present the its attention on the pandemic Grant, explained that although there to providing assistance where Administrative Review for the last at its First Quarterly General were no reported cases of Covid-19 in possible. quarter. Meeting tomorrow, on Tuesday, Barbados to date, the spread of the virus “Tuesday’s meeting will be an The meeting is open to the public. For March 17. world-wide was still having a major additional platform to do so, as we seek further information or reservations, The breakfast-meeting will be held at effect on the tourism industry. to keep our members up-to-date and please contact the BHTA at the Hilton Barbados Resort at 8 am, He noted, “We have already received provide information on plans and the telephone #622-5041 or via email at and will feature presentations by Dr. reports from members about cancella- measures being put in place to respond [email protected]. Local tourism agencies working together following temporary cruise operations suspension ON Saturday night, the Cruise Lines berthed and their passengers need to get gers will be on board. The BTMI is currently in talks with International Association (CLIA) an- home safely via scheduled flights and a Local tourism officials including the its partners to assist with the safe and nounced in a press release the tempo- significant number of chartered flights. Barbados Port Inc., the Barbados speedy passage of travellers back home. rary suspension of cruise ship operations This is happening in Ports all across the Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), the GAIA Inc. has increased its resources in light of COVID-19. This took effect globe at this moment.