Operators from the Christmas carnival and officials from the Ministry of Health were locked in a meeting late into the night over whether to allow the event to move forward or not.
Up to 10:30 p.m. last night, there was still no word on whether the carnival operators’ COVID-19 protocol application was approved or not.
Attorney Bjorn Ferguson, who represents McCafferty’s Enterprises Bahamas Limited, the company that operates the carnival, said his clients are prepared to proceed with the event regardless of the decision.
“Obviously, we are waiting to see if our protocol document has been approved or not,” Ferguson told The Nassau Guardian.
“That is the extent of the authority that has been established: to approve the protocol documents or to issue protocols, to also add guidelines to assist businesses to operate.
“That body does not have the authority in law to shut a business down. That is our position. They exist to provide guidelines and issue protocols and approve protocols from various businesses and industries.”
The ministry’s Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) held its usual meeting yesterday and the approval of the carnival’s application was among the matters on the agenda.
“We’re not going to open without protocols,” Ferguson said.
“If they don’t respond to us, then the protocols that we have submitted we’re going to presume that they are sufficient to operate in this environment. We want their input. They’re the scientists.
“They have a statutory function and, so, we want their input and we want to remain compliant with the law. So, we resubmitted the protocol document as required and requested by law.
“We’re waiting for that document to be approved. If it’s not approved, then we’re waiting on guidelines to be issued or some protocols to be issued by the ministry.”
When asked what carnival operators will do if the ministry does not issue any protocols and denies the applications, Ferguson replied, “If no protocols or guidelines are issued by the ministry, then we will use the protocols that we have submitted. They comply with the CDC, the Center for Diseases Control [and Prevention] in the United States.”
The Ministry of Health denied the initial request by the carnival operators to hold the event this year due to concerns relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister of Health and Wellness Dr. Michael Darville said the operators were instructed to submit another application, which was received by the ministry on Monday.
The carnival, which is typically an annual event, has been the subject of much controversy with questions over whether it would be allowed to take place given the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ferguson said the carnival was prepared to open as early as last night.
He said training was held for staff “to operate safely in this environment”.
“You have a lot of locals who are now being hired, so they’re becoming familiar with the machinery and also proper sanitization, proper sanitization of the equipment,” Ferguson said.
He said the carnival will hopefully open by the weekend.
The post Carnival operators preparing to open appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.
source https://thenassauguardian.com/carnival-operators-preparing-to-open/
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