By ROBYN ADDERLEY
FREEPORT, Grand Bahama, July 28, 2020 (BIS) –With the threat of a possible storm impacting The Bahamas generally and Grand Bahama specifically later this week, it has been announced by the Office of the Prime Minister in Grand Bahama that all hardware stores on the island will be permitted to open as of Wednesday, July 29, 2020.
The announcement, which was made by Minister of State for Grand Bahama Senator Kwasi Thompson on Tuesday afternoon, will allow all Grand Bahamian residents the opportunity to purchase needed supplies in preparation for a storm.
“We want the public to monitor the possible storm and we also want the public to be in a position to make all of the necessary preparations,” Minister Thompson said. “We know that in Grand Bahama we are under a lockdown and only certain businesses were exempted and allowed to open – namely, food stores, gas stations and pharmacies — but the Prime Minister has announced that he would allow hardware stores to be opened the same time as our grocery stores and our pharmacies. We are also allowing our residents to leave their premises to make the necessary hurricane preparations, in the event the storm affects The Bahamas and Grand Bahama.”
Minister Thompson said that the hardware stores will be allowed to open until the end of the lockdown on August 7. He admonished all Grand Bahamian residents that as they go out and about making storm preparations and buying necessary items, that they continue to observe the health protocols in regard to Covid-19 — namely the wearing of masks, observing social distancing and washing hands and using sanitizer on a regular basis.
