The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) yesterday warned all business owners "not to take anything for granted" in preparation for Tropical Storm Erika. The chamber further advised all business owners to ensure that their businesses are properly insured and that their records are adequately protected. With residents rushing to buy essentials ahead of the storm, the chamber also strongly advised against price gouging, The storm, due to hit The Bahamas this weekend, prompted representatives of the BCCEC and other business associations, including the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association and the Downtown Nassau Partnership (DNP), to urge members of the business community to take precautions.
"Businesses are advised to not take anything for granted and use prudence in your preparation to ensure the safety of your staff and employees, as well as the protection of your property and assets. "Business are advised to pay close attention to the instructions and advisories from The Bahamas Meteorological Department, as well as from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)," read the BCCEC statement. Moreover, the chamber called on its members and the wider community to make sure that employees were given sufficient time to prepare for the storm and see to their own families and properties.
Representatives from the DNP similarly advised Bay Street retailers to take extra precautions to protect their businesses against storm surges and additional damage. "Please adhere to all notices from the Meteorology Department. Don't wait until last minute to: A) notify staff of hurricane store hours and scheduling; B) remove signage, benches, flags from outdoors and secure them inside the stores until after the storm passes; and C) sandbag doors to control water getting into stores and secure buildings," stated a DNP representative. Although Tropical Storm Erika remained "poorly organized" as of NEMA's alerts yesterday afternoon, the southeast Bahamas have been placed on tropical storm watch, meaning that tropical storm conditions are expected in Inagua, Mayaguana, Acklins, Crooked Island and Ragged Island within the next 48 hours.
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