Bar owners group renews plea to reopen

The recently-formed Bar Owners/Operators Association of TT (BOATT) was hopeful that bars would be included in the fourth phase of TT’s reopening.

The association is now worried that that might not be so and has renewed its call for the PM to include bars in the fourth phase.

It has a growing membership which now stands at approximately 250 owners and operators.

The association said in a media release on June 5, “We have noted a press release from the Ministry of Communications which states the dates and business types included in phase four and five does not mention bars.

“After being acknowledged in the PM’s address to the nation last Saturday our membership was optimistic for the opportunity to start contributing to the economy once again and getting some sort of relief from the unprecedented economic hardship experienced by the bar owners, operators, employees and landlords.

“We have endured nearly three months of complete closure and cannot be expected to survive any longer without urgent intervention from the Government.”

Interim president Teron Mohan said in a phone interview on June 5 that the association submitted its proposal to CMO Dr Roshan Parasram but is yet to get a response from him. Mohan said Parasram did, however, acknowledge receipt of the proposal.

He added the membership’s main concern lies with preparation.

“We have been trying to get back some feedback from him or whoever is in the office. What is the status of it so that people are able to prepare and put things in place, in anticipation of being reopened in the very near future,” Mohan said.

He said the association is aware other proposals from the food and beverage industry are being examined.

Mohan said the association’s next step would be to seek some form of grant if bars are not reopened in the fourth phase.

“We want some form of accommodation for during this period, because the issues remain where people have to commit to a rent; to improvements in infrastructure; and there are still staff that have not received a dollar from the social welfare grants…”

Mohan added some bars have shut down entirely, as “they cannot ride the storm any longer.”