Owner: 65% of restaurants in Tobago may never reopen

A Tobago businessman suspects that 65 per cent of restaurants on the island may never reopen.

Restaurant owner Kirton Sorias was responding to the Government’s decision to stop in-house dining at restaurants, bars, casinos and cinemas in an attempt to prevent a further spike in covid19 cases.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh made the announcement at the health briefing on Wednesday.

The measures took effect from midnight on Wednesday and are expected to continue for the next three weeks.

Sorias said he was not surprised by the restrictions on bars and restaurants, an industry built on service and hospitality.

But he said businesses are losing millions of dollars

“Across the board, we are losing millions monthly and we continue struggling to meet wages, to meet or rent and loan payments,” he said.

“It is unlikely that 65 per cent of restaurants in Tobago will ever reopen.”

Sorias, a Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association director, said the ongoing disruption in business operations will not help the situation.

“The ongoing disruption and uncertainty makes it even more difficult to plan for weeks much less months.”

He said the business owners and employees must find creative ways to survive.

Sorias attributed the spike in covid19 cases to parties and private weddings.

“But at the end of the day, the bar and the restaurants pay the price.”

He urged restaurant and bar owners to follow the protocols and not encourage slackness “because at the end of the day your business will suffer.”

Sorias also urged them to report to the police social gatherings in which there are large numbers of people.

“We are the ones that are going to pay financially.”