Some money-remittance services could be given the green light to reopen their doors as soon as Monday, 4 May, Premier Alden McLaughlin has announced.

At Wednesday’s daily COVID-19 press briefing, McLaughlin said the government had “reached a happy medium” with several of the remittance services.

“Earlier this week, my officials met with representatives of the remittances or money-transfer services, namely JN Money Service, MoneyGram and Western Union,” the premier said. “The meetings were constructive where the ultimate goal of reducing and eliminating the spread of COVID-19 was unanimously accepted … as the absolute bar to which all of us are operating.”

Previously, the money services were ordered to shut their doors, as part of an island-wide closure of non-essential businesses, which were introduced as part of the government’s shelter-in-place provisions.

“We understand full well that remittance services are an important service that many people depend on to send money to their families and friends aboard,” said McLaughlin on Wednesday.

Currently, money-remittance services are scattered across an array of complexes and businesses. Some can be found in gas stations, liquor stores and supermarkets, while others have their own retail stores.

The premier said government officials had reviewed plans submitted for each entity, including from remittance services with multiple locations.

“As a result, it has taken some time to create individual bespoke operation plans for the reopening of each of these businesses, in order to ensure that the requisite physical distancing requirements are met,” said the premier.

As of Monday, remittance services that have received government approval will be able to open from 6am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday.

The existing alphabetised soft-curfew restrictions in force at supermarkets will also apply to money-transfer services.

McLaughlin said the onus will fall on each remittance service to submit an operational plan and to receive approval before they can reopen.