July 8, 2021

Young Warns Restauranteurs Against Finding “Loophole” To Open Business

By Newsroom

Restauranteurs who have attempted to remain operational at this time by converting their business place into a grocery or market shop could face penalties for breaching the Public Health Regulations. The warning comes from Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Stuart Young, who called on business places to respect the law and wait until the go ahead is given for their sector to resume activity.

He was speaking at Thursday’s Post-Cabinet media briefing.

“A spade is a spade, a duck is a duck, a rabbit is a rabbit. If you’re a rabbit and you feel that by putting a duck feather on your back you become a duck, you’re going to get yourself in trouble,” Young said as he responded to a question fielded by the media.

“If you’re a restaurant and selling food as a restaurant for all this time, and in particular a take-out restaurant, don’t just go put some … I couldn’t make out what it is…and call yourself a market,” he continued.

“The government doesn’t want to stop people from doing things. We’re doing this because we got advice from the public health experts who have given us good advice for the past year-plus,” he added.

Last Saturday, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley asked those working in the food and beverage sector to “hold on just a little while longer” as he said though cases were slowly declining, the atmosphere was not yet safe enough to allow the sector to resume operation.

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