Web shops back with curb-side, drive through

As of Wednesday, May 6, 2020

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Numerous Bahamian web shop locations have resumed business via drive through and curb-side services following the government’s easing of the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown.

Much of the domestic gaming industry has joined other sectors of the economy in re-opening for the first time in over six weeks at stores able to offer these facilities while complying with the necessary health and safety protocols.

Tribune Business staff drove past Island Luck’s Fox Hill Road location which, at around 1.30pm yesterday, had a packed parking lot. The property had a large sign emphasising that patrons could use its drive-through facility to deposit monies on their accounts or pay for their numbers.

A tent structure for curb-side services was also located outside the front entrance, although no patrons were being allowed inside. Neither Sebas Bastian, Island Luck’s principal, or Gershan Major, the Bahamas Gaming Operators Association’s chief executive, returned calls and messages seeking comment before press time last night.

Tribune Business understands that all web shop chains have either re-opened or are seeking to do so. The Gaming Board, the sector’s regulator, took legal advice from the Attorney General’s Office which confirmed that under the prime minister’s Emergency Powers orders locations that could provide drive through and curb side services can re-open.

A Gaming Board spokesperson yesterday urged patrons to “immediately bring to our attention” any web shop chain or location that was not abiding by the COVID-19 health protocols so that the matter could be turned over to the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

One web shop executive, who has yet to re-open, confirmed to this newspaper their chain is likely to follow the likes of Island Luck imminently. “We’re trying to set up for some type of drive through or curb side also,” they added.

Robert Myers, the Organisation for Responsible Governance’s (ORG) principal, said of the web shops’ re-opening: “Everyone’s going to have a shift in the way they do business. Why should they be any different? They’re a legal entity, and if they do things safely, good for them.”

Well_mudda_take_sic 3 years, 11 months ago

Small wonder we are back on the EU's blacklist.

Clamshell 3 years, 11 months ago

Oh, slam!

tetelestai 3 years, 11 months ago

One has nothing, or rather, very little to do with the other. And, let us not forget, whether we like them or not, the numbers boys are now a legal entity and are entitled, under law, to the same protections and treatment as any other lawful business.

themessenger 3 years, 11 months ago

EU blacklisting be damned, I looking at where my NIB pension money that my government is so freely giving away is going. Three things Bahamians will buy before they buy food, rum, numbers and crabbie and not necessarily in that order.SMT.

ISpeakFacts 3 years, 11 months ago

Well said themessenger, this is what happens when you let the D- population multiply and create more buffoons, not to mention the interbreeding with illegal hatian immigrants who only know how to steal and kill, thus creating more D- populist and then recycling the cycle of crime and murder!!!

Clamshell 3 years, 11 months ago

Curbside numbers delivery ... only in the Bahamas. We’re awesome.

TalRussell 3 years, 11 months ago

Ma Comrade Clamshell, awesome post. We've now lost all rest we marble if we will allow gov't's approval making numbers wagering so much an essential product - tis that time to commit all up Sandilands crazy wards - cause we've become a certified mentally deficient colony of 700 out islands and cays to even think to consider whether to justify curb-side wagering? Have we lost all self-respect?
I'd wager attractive odds that even Las Vegas gov't officials, would've attempted have pulled this crap off over Nevadans!

Porcupine 3 years, 11 months ago

I like having the opportunity to agree with you, Tal.

tetelestai 3 years, 11 months ago

Forgive me if I am wrong, Tal, but the new order does not classify numbers boys as "essential", but rather the order offers any business, essential or not, that can offer curbside service, the ability to open...such as liquor stores, who also were not deemed essential. So, not quite sure you are accurate here. I stand to be corrected, though.

Porcupine 3 years, 11 months ago

A better direction of where this country is headed cannot be found. Central bank stops dollar outflows. Web shops make sure people will stay poor and need tax payer assistance. Web shops pay so little tax that it is ridiculous. I am worried that the leaders of this country along with a significant portion of our citizens are just plain ignorant. Is there a nicer way to state this? Nationalize the web shops in this state of emergency. The government, we the people, are going to end up paying part of the the salaries of both the workers and the patrons of this "business" in the very near future anyway.

tetelestai 3 years, 11 months ago

Porcupine, why are you concerned with how I spend my money? If I want to waste my money on gambling - a legal entity, now - I should be willing to do so. If I want to waste my weekly and small cheque on alcohol, why is that your concern? If I want to stay poor, that is my prerogative Are you advocating the government make our money choices for us?

I do agree with your point, however, that they should pay more taxes. Of course, that raises the issue of whether said increase tax is prejudicial to numbers houses, who - lets not forget - are now legal entities and are afforded protection under the law - whether we like it or not.

Well_mudda_take_sic 3 years, 11 months ago

Like the previous Christie-led PLP government, you're choosing to ignore the will of the Bahamian people that was expressed in a duly held national referendum. The majority of voters who voted in that national referendum voted "No" to the legalization of the gaming web shops.

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