This is the second year of celebrating Christmas during the Coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19), which caused many lives to be disrupted. Some have lost their jobs due to their workplaces being closed or downsized.
We spoke to a few people who shared what their Christmas wish would be and whether the pandemic has affected them.
Loretta Hilliman, managing director, William T. Gardens,
“The Covid-19 has not affected my business. In fact, I got more business during this time. I host birthdays, weddings and other events and I do photoshoots in my garden. People prefer the outdoor space. They don’t want to do their events indoors anymore. However, my Christmas wish would be for the Covid to go away. While my business is benefiting, I want this pandemic to end because in other areas of life you’re restricted. I can’t get to do the things I would like to do. Besides, I’ve had close people that died from it. My husband’s nephew and his brother-in-law died right here in Guyana from it. A former resident from my village (Den Amstel), who was living in America died during the early stages of Covid. That was really hard because she used to help a lot of people and she was instrumental in getting a lot of work done in the village. She would get donations and send down to make the village better. Right now my granddaughter in England has Covid. So where Covid is concerned, I am well aware of how deadly it is and I take all my precautions. I wish also for my business to continue to be successful.”
Mina Persaud, market vendor,
“My wish is to have a nice Christmas and for the business in the market to be bright. We hardly making money at the market. It is very slow because people don’t have money to shop. They are out of jobs. Right now I have two sons who are out of jobs. They were doing carpentry but right now they are not getting work. They were at home but they started going some days in the bush (interior) to look for work. They have families to mind and I have to help them out because I don’t want to see them punish. It’s really hard for me. All of the goods raise at the shops and we’re just working to pay the bills. The pandemic affecting me a lot. You have to wear mask to go all over and you can’t go out as you like. I don’t like to wear the mask because I am asthmatic and it makes me stifle. I get the blowing and shortness of breath but I know I still have to wear the mask to protect myself. My Christmas wish is also to see this sick (Covid-19) go away and everything come back normal for everyone.”
Adolphus Rogers, vendor/Medical doctor,
“My Christmas wish is not only for Guyana, but for the world to have a solution to the Covid-19 pandemic and for the lives of everyone to be comfortable and everything returns to normalcy. My wish also is to see the cost of living decrease and that everyone, in spite of class, can sustain themselves. Covid has affected me in a whole lot of ways. One, it increased my workload in my profession and number two, it has an effect on the market sales as well. It is a bit slow. This is due to a low production of labour, which caused an increase in price for a commodity. I also think that as much as the grants are being offered for Covid and for the flood relief, that the entrepreneurs should receive some sort of assistance because even if you are buying produce, you still have to pay a high price. As much as they [government] can compensate those other categories, they should look at the young entrepreneurs.”
Eliana Sinclair, UG student,
“My Christmas wish is to successfully pass an exam this Christmas and to improve myself health-wise; mentally and emotionally as well. Covid-19 has affected me during online classes. It can be difficult when I’m at home and I sign in for classes sometimes and the internet connection is not working that well. This virus has affected my social life also. I am not able to go out because of the restrictions and because of the fear of catching the virus.”
Awad Narine Baldeo, jeweller,
“Covid-19 has affected me real bad because business is really slow. It is not just in my area in Parika, but all over. My Christmas wish is for my business to improve. My wish also is for the country to be better and for the government to do its job and serve everybody equally. When that happens I would be happy. I want to say best wishes for the Christmas to everybody in the whole country.”
Ravi Sasenarine, vendor.
“My Christmas wish is for the country to get better in the New Year because everything is not as expected. I am not directly affected by Covid-19, but it is my wish for it to end. I do vending at the Hydronie market and we have to buy our produce very expensive to sell. Then we do not really get to sell out all of our ground provision and all of our greens. Those are perishable stuff and at the end of the day when we don’t get sale the produce is left on us and we have to throw them away. That happens because other vendors are selling along the roadway. I would like the council (Neighbourhood Democratic Council) to look into the matter and bring these people in the market. This way, when the shoppers come they would not have to stop and buy outside, they would come inside and everybody would benefit.”
Beverly De Souza, vendor,
“My Christmas wish is for everybody to get more jobs so that the money would circulate. My wish also is that more people can afford to come out and do shopping. I sell chicken in the market and Covid-19 has affected my business terribly. I’m not getting the kind of sale like I used to get before. Even though the country open up again and everything appears to be normal, some people are facing it really hard. And the price for grocery and everything in the shop just raise. Nobody in my family ever had Covid and I am using my bush (medicine) to ensure that I don’t get it.”
