WILLEMSTAD - The Curaçao Restaurant Association (CRA) wants the restaurants to reopen step by step and announces a plan of action, by means of a step-by-step plan.
The current measures are too strict according to CRA and therefore a “hard blow to the sector and the economy of Curaçao”. CRA states that food delivery “is not profitable and curfews make it impossible to make enough deliveries. Especially with the fierce competition from truk'i pan (BBQ stands) and people who cook and deliver from home, this cannot be sustained”.
The plan of action that CRA has designed will begin on Saturday, April 17, with allowing meals to be taken out, opening drive-throughs and delivery until 9:00 PM. After Saturday 1 May, according to CRA, the terraces can open again with 50% capacity and the closing time at 20:00. From May 16, the restaurants would reopen indoors with a 50% capacity and the terraces open to the maximum.
In addition to the step-by-step plan, CRA wants the Emergency Measure Bridging Employment (NOW) scheme and Fixed Cost Allowance (TVL) to go to 100% and be paid within a week after submission.
"Restaurants should be exempt from paying fixed charges, exempt from OB (sales tax) for a minimum of six months, and defer payment of 2020 assessments," said CRA.
Restaurants now must wait a month for NOW money and TVL will not arrive until a month later. According to CRA, "NOW and TVL payments were not paid on time, and the restaurants are forced to also pay staff, social security contributions and taxes later".