Some businesses consider sending home staff

"Businesses in the vicinity of the destroyed buildings both above and below Hart Street and particularly on lower Frederick Street have had to endure a significant and persistent loss of business activity," the Downtown Owners and Merchant’s Association (DOMA) said in a release yesterday.

DOMA reported that on Friday several businesses indicated that they would have no choice but to consider sending their staff home until the street is reopened.

The association said more than a month has passed and yet the area remains closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

While appreciating the assistance of the authorities in clearing destroyed buildings, the association said it was at a loss as to why the work has taken so long and especially why no effort had been made to mitigate the damaging effects of closing the main shopping street within the capital city.

DOMA said people who work in the city were forced to walk through the People’s Mall site to move up and down Frederick Street.

"Vehicular traffic cannot proceed beyond Hart Street on Frederick Street and is being diverted to other streets such as Charlotte and St Vincent Streets which are already overburdened with vehicular traffic."

DOMA said demolition works were continuing at night and it has pleaded for Frederick Street to be opened during the day and then closed at night. The association has also sent a signed petition to the authorities on Wednesday. "Several days have gone by and despite our reasonable requests and constructive ideas, Frederick Street remains closed.

"Business operators in the vicinity of the destroyed area have been patient and cooperative. They have endured operating losses since April 9."