‘We Cannot Go Back, We Must Build On This’
“Covid-19 has forced us into doing some things that we have been unable or unwilling to do. We cannot now go back – we must build on this,” OBA Senate Leader Marcus Jones said.
Senator Jones said, “The outbreak of Covid-19 has forced many changes on us, but some, like the appearance of outdoor dining, have been positive and should be encouraged. Many have begun to call this post-Covid-19 era the ‘new’ normal and if so, let’s embrace it and never go back to the ‘old’.
“Every crisis offers opportunities, and this is one Bermuda should grab. Hamilton has never had a street scene and now we have a chance to establish one, which locals and tourists can enjoy. It may even be the precursor to developing some permanent pedestrianised areas in Hamilton and St. George’s, which is desperately in need of an economic lift.
“I would urge both Corporations and the Government to look at this and ease any red tape so practical and good ideas can move quickly. We should also look at delivery times, perhaps keeping them to before 8am and after 6pm or have a dedicated area for trucks to park to make deliveries.
“We could also experiment with pedestrianisation, perhaps closing the block within the city that covers a part of Burnaby Street between Reid and Church Streets. All the parking could be transformed into outside dining areas.
“How about extra street lighting on these streets for nighttime dining and an area designated for live entertainment. We should look at a suitable area in North Hamilton to pedestrianize – this must not be all about Front Street.
“Covid-19 has forced us into doing some things that we have been unable or unwilling to do. We cannot now go back – we must build on this.”
As the island and world deals with the Covid-19 pandemic, we are doing our best to provide timely and accurate information, and you can find more information on the links below.
- All: Our coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic here
- Official: The Bermuda Government website here
- World Stats: Live graph of all cases worldwide here
- Bermuda Stats: Chart of the Bermuda stats here
- Timeline: Visual look at the timeline here
- Comprehensive: Our new Covid-19 website here
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Yup, every crisis offers opportunities – can someone tell government that?