AKASH SAMAROO
Scores of PriceSmart customers who tried to beat the daily rush, left the membership discount store empty handed today, after being told that such establishments have now been ordered closed by the government.
You can hardly blame the shoppers for being unaware though, as the legal notice which included membership discount stores was only sent by the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs at 8 am this morning.
Those who were turned away questioned why this was done as they claim that supermarkets were allowed to remain open.
However, Minister in the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs, Renuka Sagramsingh-Sooklal said PriceSmart sells more than just grocery items.
"The congregation and crowds is the major contributor to the spread of the virus," the Minister told Guardian Media.
"These discount / members shopping clubs, as we are aware, are not in the business of selling grocery items alone. There's clothes, appliances, and a list goes on," she explained.
Minister Sagramsingh-Sooklal added: "So with malls and retailers closed, the information is that people are congregating in large numbers at these places to buy many of these items listed above."