In a highly anticipated virtual meeting held last evening Sunday October 4th, Bar Owners from across the Territory of the Virgin Islands were asked by the Government of the Virgin Islands to present a plan for the reopening of bars with precise guidelines “they can live with” for review and consideration.
The meeting was organized and moderated by Deputy Speaker and Territorial At-Large Representative Hon. Neville Smith, who is seemingly championing the cause on behalf of bar owners in the Virgin Islands. In attendance was also Leader of Government Business Hon. Andrew Fahie, Health Minister Hon. Carvin Malone, Junior Minister for Trade, Hon. Shereen Flax Charles, Chief Environmental Officer Mr. Lionel Micheals, Bar owners, Members of the recently formed Bar Owners Association and others.
The meeting which began around 8:30pm lasted for approximately two hours with both officials and bar owners amicably voicing their concerns.
Of the many issues presented, the Government of the Virgin Islands requested that the Bar Owners Association present a detailed plan for the reopening of bars, with specific guidelines for review and consideration, which Premier Fahie said once submitted would be looked at with the utmost urgency.
One Bar owner asked: “Apart of the Bar Owners Association coming together to form an alliance was there ever a plan for bars and nightlife, where we ever included in this reopening phase, what plans did you have to present to us tonight?” To this end, moderator Hon. Neville Smith asked that members not get side tracked and cast blame but stick to finding solutions.
Additionally, Bar owners where asked to state how exactly they plan on consistently enforcing protocols and guidelines as well as controlling patrons of the bar. Some suggestions included, Security, Fines, Bar Task Force, no dancing allowed, as well as the association plans to govern each other and hold bar owners accountable through the newly established Bar Owners Association.
In response to suggestions by the Bar Owners Association, Chief Environmental Officer Mr. Lionel Michaels state that: “The Government of the Virgin Islands is focused on suppressing Covid-19, NOT issuing fines.”
He also confirmed that some 40 persons have been recruited already to serve in the local Task Force to regulate bars.
“We need our fair chance to govern ourselves and abide by the laws” said one bar owner Clive Barronville of La Petite Spots Bar.
The Bar Owners association is expected to hold elections in the coming weeks to establish a full board in order for the association to be fully functional.
There are presently approximately some 250 bars and nightclubs in the territory, many of which are also classified as restaurants. Those that do not serve food are now attempting to make preparations to sell food in order to open.
Alcohol and beverage distributors all across the territory are also seeing hardships as most of the clients are bars, with some distributors already laying off persons due to territory wide closure.
Hon. Shereen Flax Charles also lobbied for sister island business to be included in the association as they too are affected by the closure.
More to come as the story develops.