Barbadians could be returning to the alphabet system for supermarket shopping, banking and hardware stores.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley gave the update this evening during an address to the nation from Ilaro Court.
“I am in the process of consulting and I am telling you upfront” she said, stating she was not going to commit to this system without consultation.
“This is an update, it is not a proclamation, but I am now satisfied that we need to consult with the private sector and the unions that from Sunday on, we should be reintroducing the alphabet system for . . . supermarkets, hardware stores and banks as we had last year.
“Not because we are panicking, but out of an abundance of caution to be able to keep the numbers down,” she said.
The alphabet system was introduced last year at supermarkets, banks and hardware stores during the heightened COVID-19 period.
Mottley said Government would be meeting with the members of the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP) and the private sector either later today or early tomorrow on this matter.
“I know the private sector does not like the idea of the alphabet system but, by the same token, the doctors both in BAMP and the public sector, have all felt that between now and January 14, in the first instance, we should go there and I am inclined to support them,” she said.
The Prime Minister said they would be meeting to have this matter resolved, adding that a directive would then be issued. (CM)
