POLICE on Saturday were forced to use their heavy hand and temporarily closed a supermarket after customers failed to comply with covid19 protocols issued for supermarkets.
Wes Bees Supermarket in Diego Martin was temporarily shut down after a video circulated on Facebook with complaints of overcrowding outside the grocery.
Supermarkets operators have urged for only one shopper per family to reduce crowds and can only allow half of the number of people it can accommodate at any one time in keeping with new health protocols which came into effect on Saturday.
The video showed customers crammed under tents trying to avoid the rain as they waited to enter the supermarket.
On its Facebook page the supermarket chain stated: 'Due to a lack of social distancing under tents outside our Diego Martin location by those entering our store, we've been asked to close til 5 pm.'
'When we reopen, more tents will be available as well as more earmarked space for a socially distanced line to enter our branch.'
Wes Bees said it was doing its part to guide customers on the new entry policy to ensure a safe shopping experience as well as to help the nation mitigate the spread of covid19.
'Please do your part in keeping a sense of personal responsibility and responsibility towards your neighbours. It takes all of us to beat this virus,' the supermarket said in its notice.
At Persad's supermarket in Marbella, which is located a short distance away, the process flowed smoothly.
Rhonda Persad, a customer, said she was pleased with the protocols in place and was surprised by the friendliness of the staff.
'I came from Gasparillo to shop here. The service is great and the staff ensures that people comply with protocols.'
One staff member who stood by the door, ensured that trolleys were sanitised and people washed their hands and took their temperature.
'We do get the odd person trying to be loud and argumentative and it does affect us mentally. We are all under stress but we have to deal with it in the nicest way possible because if we are roughly, even when we are trying to get people to do the correct thing, we get blamed wrongfully.'
On Friday, Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith visited several establishments in Port-of-Spain, St James, Maraval, and Diego Martin, where he spoke to several managers of supermarkets and groceries and advised them of the latest public health regulations.
'I specifically spoke to Wes Bees on Friday and told them how to distance their crowds and have their employees ensure that their customers are socially distancing.
'Any time I see any establishment have people packed like channa in a doubles, I will shut it down until they get their act together,' Griffith said on Saturday.
At JTA supermarket in Marabella security guards had to intervene to quell complaints from customers who had lined up outside the grocery but were getting wet by the rain.
When Sunday Newsday visited there w
