NASSAU, BAHAMAS — President of the Straw Business Persons Association Esther Thompson yesterday called on the government to provide additional social assistance to straw vendors in need, who continue to await the reopening of the Downtown Nassau Straw Market.

Thompson told Eyewitness News that after more than a year of closure of the market, vendors continue to struggle to make ends meet amid uncertainty for when it will reopen.

“The government should come up with more social benefits for the straw vendors until they deice what they are going to do and how they are going to do it,” she said.

“I don’t see a problem with the market reopening from where I sit. The market could open today if the government so desires because the available space is there for the proper social distancing and the proper protocols that health officials are calling for.”

MORE