The Department of Environment and Natural Resources issued advisories this evening saying that per the Stay at Home Regulations, registered commercial farmers and licenced fishermen are “exempt to move about in the course of performing their work”, and they will be permitted to sell local produce at certain roadside stalls or their home bases, however an exemption letter is required.
These advisories from the Government follow after the police shut down a vegetable stand resulting in a petition — which called for the Government to “allow people to buy from farm and fisherman stalls” — attained over 5,000 signatures.
Update 10.53pm: A Government spokesperson said, “The Regulations for the Stay at Home Order always allowed for Licensed Fishermen and Registered Commercial Farmers to tend to their farms and to fish. On Thursday evening the Deputy Premier, the Hon. Walter Roban, JP, MP, announced measures to allow them to sell their goods at roadside stalls under specific permission.
“The last week has been difficult with more Bermudian lives lost to Covid-19 and the economic pain of the very necessary Stay at Home Order. Despite the challenges, the Government remains focussed on its mission: keeping Bermudians safe while rebuilding Bermuda’s economy.
“The Government trusts that the Bermuda Industrial Union will be a productive partner in that effort given the number of BIU members who rely on a strong tourism industry for their livelihoods.”
Govt Advisory: Exemption for Commercial Farmers
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources wishes to advise the public, per the Public Health [COVID-19 Emergency Powers][Stay at Home] Regulations 2021, registered commercial farmers are exempt to move about in the course of performing their work.
The Ministry of National Security will now also permit farmers to sell local produce at certain roadside stalls or their home bases from 7am to 7pm. An exemption letter is required. Any commercial farmer requiring an exemption letter should contact the Ministry of National Security at emogroup@gov.bm.
Selling: A registered commercial farmer may sell with payment being pre-paid or on-site payment, as well as delivery of product from their place of business between 7am and 7pm Monday to Saturday, as per all directions of the Minister of Health at the following sites:
- Westover Farm [Ritchie Bascome], Farm Base, Daniel’s Head, Sandys
- J&J Produce [Rolland Hill] – Farm Base, Astwood Park, Warwick
- Wadson’s Farm [Tom Wadson] – Farm Base, Lukes Pond Road, Southampton
- Amaral Farms [Carlos Amaral] – Farm Base, Bleak Farm, Watlington Road, Devonshire
- Windy Bank Farms [Malcolm Smith] – Farm Base, Windy Bank, Middle Road, Smiths
- Hideaway Farms [ Hans Olander] – Farm Base, Jacob’s Point Road, St. George’s
- DeSilva Farms [Manuel DeSilva] – Farm Base, Marguarita Lane, Middle Road, Devonshire
- Pacheco & Sons [Roger Pacheco] – Farm Base, Locust Hall, Devonshire
- Powell Farm [Michael Powell] – Farm Base, Watlington Lane, Devonshire
Commercial farmers may operate a roadside stand to sell fresh local produce between the hours of 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday.
- J&J Produce [Junior Hill] – entrance of Melville South, Devonshire
- Amaral Farms [Carlos Amaral] – opposite Garthowen Est., Middle Road, Devonshire
- Raphael Barnett – Court Street, Pembroke
- Benjamin D’Estrella – Burchall’s Cove, Hamilton Parish
- Smith’s Farms [Milton Williams] – opposite White Hill Field, Sandys
- Dill Pickles Farm [Jevaughn Dill] – Rubber Tree, near Warwick Post Office; grass field just south of MAWI; Government Health Clinic, Hamilton
- Saleem Madyun – Rockaway, Southampton; Tivoli Park, Warwick
- Scratcher Farms [Audley Shepherd] – between Barnes Corner and Frank’s Bay, Southampton
- Gardiner Fruits & Vegetables [Wilbur Burt]- Farm Base, Cedar Ave, Pembroke
- D.R. Farms [Daniel Renaud] – Pond House Road, Smith’s
- Jones Farm [Sheldon Jones] – Devon Springs Road, Smiths
- Roots Gardening, [Brian Swan] – Abbot’s Cliff, Hamilton Parish
- Wadson’s Farm [Tom Wadson] – CSA pick up, Seabright Ave, Paget
- R. Barnett- Court Street
Both farm stand and roadside operations must adhere to all directions of the Minister of Health; including but not limited to a maximum of two vendors together, ensuring that the number of customers attending the area at any one time is limited and adhering to the approved 6-foot social distancing standards between customers. Masks and gloves must be used by vendors and customers. Hand sanitizer must be available for the use of the sellers.
Sites will be monitored for compliance by the Agriculture Officer, the Bermuda Police Service, and Royal Bermuda Regiment. Should any farm operation not comply, the Minister of Home Affairs authorizes the above officers to close that operation immediately and only allow it to reopen if directed by the Minister. Permission is valid until the expiration of the named Regulations.
The permit holder must always carry a hard copy of the permit with them and proof of identification in the form of a Driver’s license or Government-issued ID. Failure to do so will void this permission.
We encourage everyone to be safe and please follow the guidelines and safety precautions provided by the Department of Health at www.gov.bm/coronavirus.
Govt Advisory: Exemption for Commercial Fisherman
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources wishes to advise the public, per the Public Health [Covid-19 Emergency Powers][Stay at Home] Regulations 2021, licenced fishermen are exempt to move about in the course of performing their work as licenced fishermen.
The Ministry of National Security will now also permit fishermen to sell fish at certain roadside stalls or docks from 7am to 7pm. An exemption letter is required.
Any fisherman requiring an exemption letter should contact the Ministry of National Security at emogroup@gov.bm. Please include a copy of your Fisheries ID and the expiry date.
The list of approved vendor sites is as follows:
- Mangrove Bay, Sandys Parish
- Ely’s Harbour Public Dock, Sandys Parish
- Scaur Hill Dock, Sandys Parish
- Robinson’s Marine Station, Sandys Parish
- Jews Bay, Southampton Parish
- Trimingham Hill, Paget Parish
- Ducking Stool, Pembroke Parish
- Palmetto Road, Devonshire Parish
- Devonshire Dock, Devonshire Parish
- Devonshire Bay, Devonshire Parish
- Burchall Cove, Hamilton Parish
- Bailey’s Bay Public Dock, Hamilton Parish
- Kindley Field, St Georges Parish
- Mullet Bay, St Georges Parish
The letter also exempts licenced fishermen from the nighttime curfew to prepare for and undertake offshore fishing operations only. This does not include shore fishing, and licenced fishermen should not have any person not registered as a fisherman on their vessels during this time.
Vessel owners should ensure that only two [2] fishermen are on a vessel at any time during daytime or nighttime operations, unless they all live in the same household.
Should a fisherman be challenged by a member of the Bermuda Police Service, Royal Bermuda Regiment, or the Fisheries Enforcement Section, he/she must present a current [or recently expired] Fisheries ID card and a Driver’s Licence or other Government-issued ID.
As a safety measure to minimize the risk of Covid-19 spread during this stay-at-home period, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will be limiting operations that involve direct contact with members of the public. Therefore, the licensing counter at the head office in the Botanical Gardens will be closed, and all DENR facilities will be closed to walk-in customers.
Given the current challenges the commercial fisheries licensing period, which was due to end on 31st March 2021, has been extended. The new deadline for relicensing will be 30th May, 2021. Licences expiring in 2021 will be honoured until that time. All the usual steps in the process will still need to take place.
Marine Resources and Fisheries Enforcement staff are available by phone [293-5600] or email [fisheries@gov.bm] to answer questions.
Fishermen are also reminded that fishing in the Seasonally Protected Areas, also known as the “Hind Grounds” and “Grouper Grounds”, is now prohibited [from 15 April to 14 August 2021] to protect spawning Red Hinds and Black Groupers.
The Extended Closure Areas around important Black Grouper aggregations will remain closed to fishing until December 1, 2021. For maps of the areas, see https://www.gov.bm/bermudas-no-fishing-areas.
