The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

The Government’s decision to cut social distancing requirements by 50 percent to three feet yesterday drew a mixed reaction from businesses with several suggesting it will have little impact.

Roberta Garzaroli, Graycliff’s general manager, told Tribune Business that easing the previous six feet spacing will make little difference to her because persons prefer to be separated at the property’s restaurant.

She added: “When people come to us we follow the rules strictly. We still ask them to fill in the contact tracing form and take them through all of the rigamarole. I’ve been to places in Nassau that have not been as strict as we are, so when friends come over to Graycliff they say it’s like coming to see the Gestapo and I tell them that’s good; I will keep making sure we stay strict.”

Lucy Burrows, Geoffrey Jones’s general manager, added: “To be honest, this is not going to affect us because we don’t have that many people in the store at one time anyway. Our doors are no longer locked and we allow people to walk in freely now. It’s an odd occasion now where we tell a customer that they can’t come in because it’s crowded.”

This time of year for Geoffrey Jones is historically slow, and normally remains that way leading up to summer. The companies spoke out after the Ministry of Health and Wellness confirmed it was cutting social distancing requirements inside businesses by 50 percent - from six feet to three feet.

“Business establishments shall ensure that all customers and staff maintain physical distancing between themselves and others of not less than three feet while inside or awaiting entry outside the business,” it said.

“Businesses shall determine the number of persons permitted entry into the business at any one time based on one person for every 30 square feet of floor space which is unoccupied by furnishings, fixtures or machinery and is accessible to the public.

“Businesses must have distance markers three feet apart, indicating where each customer is to stand on a line awaiting entry or check out...... All restaurants shall ensure that seating is arranged so that there is the spacing of at least three feet between each dining party.”

Dwayne Higgs, WHIM Automotive’s general manager, described the move as a “good thing”. He continued: “I have already started to make preparations because we can fit eight people at the counter, and about five people waiting inside, so we can increase the number of people waiting inside.”

“I don’t think I’m going back to how it used to be where we just let a bunch of people in and they walk around picking numbers. I think that was a very disorganised system. What we do now is sort of like what a bank does, where you let people in, you form a line and, when the next part specialist is available, the first person in line goes to them. It’s a lot more organised. I think we’re going to stick with that.”

Mr Higgs asserted, though, that the mask mandate easing for only hotels and resorts was “discriminatory.” He continued: “All this does is create animosity and make Bahamians feel like they are second class citizens.

“You’re telling me that a foreigner in any hotel or casino can take off his or her mask but, as a Bahamian, in my business in the same country I have to wear a mask? That makes no sense at all and it should be straight across the board for everybody.”