Business owners want to reopen before June 7

Business leaders are in favour of the third phase of the reopening of the economy before June 7 so that people can get back out to work.

There have been no positive cases of covid19 since April 26 and several business groups believe phase three can be brought forward.

Phase three includes bringing public servants back out to work with flexitime implemented where possible, the resumption of all private sector construction and consideration for 75 per cent in public transport occupancy.

Acting president of the Greater Tunapuna Chamber of Commerce Melissa Senhouse said since phase two began on May 21, she would want ten to 14 days to pass with additional testing and safety measures in place, before the third phase begins. She said if there were no new cases, she would support the start of the third phase before June 7.

She said many of her members did not fall into the first two phases, as they were mostly in the retail sector, so she was unsure if they will be able to reopen.

Greater San Fernando Business Association president Kiran Singh also called for a speedier reopening of the economy.

He said the retail sector was starving. The micro, small and medium-enterprise sectors were the hardest hit, he said.

Singh suggested the reopening of photocopying and printing services, bookstores, clothing stores, the sales and service of computer systems and security cameras be part of the next phase since they offered essential services.

He is expecting some 20 per cent of his membership to close permanently. He said other sub-sectors can be opened which will allow employment to be regenerated, further consumerism to continue, and allow economic activity to restart.

Singh said the membership of the chamber strongly advocated for businesses to be reopened with all public health measures in place to allow activities to occur in a safe, hygienic and healthy environment.