Businesses at tipping point

BUSINESSES reeling from lockdown restrictions are fast approaching the tipping point before the challenges to operation become irreversible – and some have already reached that stage.

Speaking at a press briefing/webinar hosted by the TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce, several prominent business advocates in the restaurant and bar, hospitality, gaming and entertainment sectors made their case why restrictions should be lightened to allow meaningful activity that adheres to stringent health and safety protocols.

Each of the sectors outlines detailed plans that met international and industry standards that they submitted to the Ministry of Health as part of the requirement to ensure a safe reopening. All of these plans were approved, and in some instances, helped shape national policies – but because of the measures still in place to mitigate the spread of covid19 none of them have been implemented.

Bars, cinemas, casinos and entertainment events are all still closed to the public, while restaurants are able to operate on a take-away/delivery format. This, the industry representatives said, is unsustainable for much longer.

Several businesses, they said, had invested thousands of dollars in upgrading their safety protocols, including installing sanitising and social-distancing equipment like hand-sanitiser dispensers, ventilation upgrades and screens to aid in social distancing. And, most were all keen to note, so far none of the known covid19 cases in the country were linked to outbreaks originating at any of their establishments – despite their being classified as potential hotspots for transmission for encouraging congregation.

ON VERGE OF CLOSURE

“There is a red line in the sand for many businesses. The reality remains that as it stands now, my business and many others like it, will probably open in 2023 the way we were in 2019. That’s a staggering reality. (covid19) is as much an economic and social crisis as it is medical crisis,” businessman and restaurateur Peter George, one of the panellists, said.

He noted the tipping point for businesses. “Whether we’ve passed that is subjective. I don’t feel we have but we have now a tremendous challenge in front of us (that) will require collaboration from business, civil society, labour government and major financial institutions across the board in an unprecedented collaboration to get over this and a level of trust and shouldering the burden.”

George, who is behind well-known brands like Buzo and Trotters, noted that for the majority of the lockdown he has managed to keep all his staff employed, but if it continues, he’ll have no choice but to close down some of his operations.

“The damage is going to get to a point that what needs to be done to recover…we don’t have the tools, fiscal space to get it done. We are going into the eight month (of lockdown): 2020 hardly kicked off when this happened.”

The Prime Minister is scheduled to give an update on restrictions and regulations on Saturday.

“If we exit this then, we will have two months, so the year 2020 is essentially lost…what happens if we pass that point? I don’t know. I don’t know and I don’t want to countenance any type of disaster, but if we are past that point, it’s going to be a very difficult challenge for us, I would say three to five years (to recover).”

BARS CLOSING

For bar owners, who have been vocal about their resentment at being singled out as being irresponsible when that’s not entirely the case, the tipping point has already passed, especially for the small and medium proprietors.

“A lot of the small and medium ones, after the first three months they weren’t able to (reopen). From among our membership, well over 55 establishments have had to close permanently and those not at the tipping point are on the verge,” said Anil Maraj of the Barkeepers and Operators Association (BOATT).

Roxanne Pantin, president of the Caribbean Association of Event Professionals, noted that events are tactile in nature.

“Our entire industry is based on a gathering of people, so we have been literally shut down and shut out since March.”

Collaboration among sectors now is the only way to get out of the quagmire that they are now in. “One of the things I want people to understand is they shouldn’t just give up or hold on or hold out and wait for everybody to kind of do something. We have to do it ourselves. As a people we are always fighting each other for that piece of pie, but now is the time we are on a world stage. Digital transformation (has put us on) an even playing field and we can all join together to knock it out of the park.

"But we have to get over our cultural issues, political issues all of our little issues and work together to make it happen. That’s what really concerning me a little bit,” she said.

Cinema One’s Ingrid Jahra, whose industry was among the hardest hit in the pandemic, noted that the best some institutions could do is hibernate until it’s all over. “But it’s how long you can hibernate for. Hibernation needs understanding because the fixed expenses don’t go anywhere in that period. If we are not allowed to open we all hibernate but the tipping point is how long each sector can hibernate for,” she said.