NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Works Desmond Bannister said yesterday that while discussions are ongoing with health officials for the reopening of the Downtown Straw Market, the low number of vendors vaccinated add to concerns of a possible outbreak.

The Straw Business Persons Association recently called on the government to provide additional social assistance to straw vendors in need, who continue to await the reopening of the market after more than a year of closures and a struggle to make ends meet.

Speaking to reporters outside Margaritaville Beach Resort and Fins-Up Water Park at The Pointe, Bannister noted that with cases starting to rise once again and the presence of the delta variant still unknown in the country, there are concerns with reopening the facility.

“There are not sufficient numbers of Bahamians who are vaccinated,” he said.

“That is the concern of the government. We want to be able to open the straw market, but we have a responsibility to be able to open it safely.”

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