Westmoreland chamber proposes changes to curfew hours

Albert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer 

WESTERN BUREAU:
The Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce and Industry wants an adjustment to the current curfew hours which it says are hurting businesses in the parish.

The government has designated Sundays to Tuesdays as no-movement days as part of the COVID containment measures.

"As it is now, business owners have to pay staff for the no-movement days, while their businesses are totally closed," said a chamber spokesperson.

According to the Moses Chybar-led chamber, the current arrangement is also contributing to overcrowding as people rush to do business on the four movement days.

"The Chamber is of the view that adjustments ought to be made to allow for shopping with less congestion, as well as to afford business owners to earn, albeit, a reduced income," said a spokesman in a statement.

The chamber is proposing that the weekday curfew run from 2 p.m. to 5 a.m and no-movement be imposed on Saturdays and Sundays.

It is also suggesting that supermarkets and grocery shops be allowed to open at 6 a.m, on weekdays so that patrons may shop before they report for work.

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