Old Town: Urgent removal of catering inventory from public areas ordered

SARAJevo, (Patria) - The Municipality of Old Town Sarajevo calls on owners of catering establishments to immediately, without delay, proceed with the removal of placed catering inventory/furniture from in front of all their businesses and from public areas in this municipality. Namely, the competent municipal inspection has registered catering inventory/furniture in the very center of the Old Town Municipality of Sarajevo, especially in Ferhadija Street opposite the 'Egipat' pastry shop, which irresponsible citizens have used for gatherings and lingering, thus further endangering their own lives and the lives of their fellow citizens during the coronavirus pandemic.

Such actions, i.e., placing catering furniture during the coronavirus pandemic and when a temporary measure prohibiting the operation of catering establishments of all categories is in force, as well as a ban on holding all forms of gatherings, show a particularly unprofessional attitude towards the wider social community and directly contribute to the further spread of coronavirus.

If the owners and users of the inventory disregard this request, the Municipality of Old Town Sarajevo will, during the declaration of a disaster caused by the appearance of coronavirus (COVID-19), use all available mechanisms and, through the Municipal Civil Protection Headquarters and the competent municipal inspection, take all necessary actions and measures to forcibly remove the catering furniture at the expense of the owners/users.

In addition, citizens are also warned that such behavior is irresponsible and inappropriate, and that the prescribed measures will only be effective if everyone respects them. For this reason, the commander of the Municipal Civil Protection Headquarters, M.Sc. Ibrahim Hadžibajrić, once again called on citizens to be disciplined and adhere to the prescribed measures.

"Dear citizens, please do not leave your homes unless absolutely necessary. Think about yourself, but also about others whom you could endanger with your irresponsible behavior. Respect the recommendations and measures that are prescribed, because only then can we protect ourselves from this scourge. It is our obligation to protect ourselves and others because everything can be compensated except human lives. Respect the measures, stay at home," said Mayor Hadžibajrić.

The Municipality of Old Town also calls on the competent authorities and institutions responsible for implementing the Orders of the Federal Civil Protection Headquarters to intensify their activities in the field and directly prevent such or similar actions by irresponsible individuals, in order to achieve stronger and higher quality prevention.