Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon said the Government was quite pleased the retail sector has now restarted in large numbers.
In an interview with Newsday, the minister said the opening of retail outlets has “brightened the landscape in TT.”
However, she warned that care must still be taken against the spread of Covid19, as the Government moves to extend the state of emergency (SoE) for three more months until late November.
Gopee-Scoon said, “So I feel certain that the reopening of all businesses, the Government has sight of that and of course is fully aware of the sacrifices that all of these business houses have had to make, but at the end of the day it is all about making the right decisions for the entire population at large and dealing with a virus which has turned out to be horrific.”
According to Gopee-Scoon, three months was a reasonable period to extend the SoE.
She pointed out, “There are many countries where lockdowns are in full effect. Right in the region, Jamaica has seven full days of lockdown, no activity, no going outside your home. That speaks to the seriousness of the matter.”
“I think we all have to be understandable and flexible at a time like this. No Government wants to be in the position they are in and taking very hard decisions unless absolutely necessary.”
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