(St. Lucia News Online) — The coronavirus crisis will cause Christmas to come early for some.

Normally, barrel concessions are announced in November-December annually, but this time, it will begin in June, according to Prime Minister Allen Chastanet in his Social Stabilizaton Programme — COVID-19-impact response — presented last Wednesday.

He said: “As part of the government’s response to the impact of this pandemic, the annual duty-free barrel trade will take effect much earlier than normal and start in June to allow persons sufficient time to receive much-needed items from family members and friends abroad.”

Some good news after all?