The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on Sunday (May 17 2020) ordered several food-and-beverage outlets at Robertson Quay that were found selling takeaway alcohol to stop doing so immediately.
The URA said establishments selling takeaway alcoho had contributed to many people gathering around premises and socialising. The URA further issued the order a day after a post by Facebook user Lectress Pat, who spotted crowds of people gathered in the area, went viral.
Lectress mentioned in the post the double standard of authorities and said, "such wayward actions by these black sheeps will only jeopardize local community & frontline efforts to recover from the pandemic." The post went on to say, "The usual local HDB folks are being monitored closely, apprehended promptly, yet such gatherings with many drinking openly and no masks on, are tolerated in certain 'Sovereign' zones... Double Standards Much"
We also sadly report many expats and foreigners where pictured exercising and cycling in the area, as well as groups of foreigners standing outside a restaurant with half-empty cups of beer on the table.
The post, which has been shared more than 2,100 times as of 3pm Monday 18 May 2020 read: “While there were two enforcers and one police officer along the Alexandra park connector, there was not a single enforcer in sight at Robertson Quay, which is like five minutes away.
To prevent such gatherings from taking place, URA have issued a written direction to Roberton Quay restaurants to cease the sale of takeaway alcohol with immediate effect. Any contravention of such directions is an offence and we will not hesitate to take such parties to task.
The URA also warned that individuals found to be in breach of safe distancing measures will be fined.
