“When the pandemic came it was already a struggle for me because the elections was there and people was not coming. And then one day I was going home just before COVID and we pass through Albouystown and the whole bus get rob. All me rent money for the month get thief.
“It is just so these men stick up the bus and rob all the passengers is like the driver get stupid. Before you could like know what going on, we get rob. People lose them phone, jewellery and everything. It was three a them and they had guns and then they just disappear. And that was the beginning of hardship upon hardship for me.”
These are the words of a small business owner who was forced to close her salon during the two years of forced COVID-19 closures in Guyana. I asked her if the robbery was reported.“Report what? Is not like we would get back anything. I was just looking to go home. I was not frighten or anything. I was more vex than anything else because I was just studying how I paying me rent for the month. The driver drive out the area and some people come out but I ask he to keep going so I could go home. The drop was free because I had no money,” she answered.
“I went to work the next day but people didn’t really come to do hair, the town was like a ghost town because of the elections and then bam COVID-19 and that was it. We had to close we doors because they say no salon and barber shop and all them things could open.
“Girl when I hear that it was like me head was spinning because I studying is how I feeding my three children. Like what I was going to do because hair business was all I know. And then you know the country shut down, nothing happening and so definitely business dead, dead. People didn’t going nowhere so even if you say you will do the hair at home nobody was coming.
“People was scared of the COVID and even me I didn’t really want people come home at me so it was punishment. The only good thing, if you could call it that, the children didn’t have to go to school so you didn’t have to worry about passage and things to put in lunch kit and so. So is like what little I get here and there that is what we use to eat.
“I had to give up the salon because I was doing no business so how I paying the rent? I had to find money to transport all my furniture and so and pack them at home.
“Is so when I home I bursting me head what I could do to make money and nothing could be done because the COVID was there and the country was shut down so what business I could have gotten into. Girl that time was really rough, rough is then I wish I did have some government job or something to at least get a salary at the end of the month because things was so hard.
“Luckily like after a couple a weeks, some customers start reaching out to me because even though they didn’t really going anywhere is like they still want to tend to the hair. You know I was the hair doctor and for some of them the hair was sick and it had to be treated,” she said with a light laugh.
“So even though I did frighten I set up a little place, I had like a patio place; they didn’t have to come into my house to access it and so that is how I start doing a little business. At first if you used to see, I used to spray them down, everybody get on the mask and sanitizer and so on and I would tell my children to stay in. You know you want to make money but then you scared still because people were dying and I was like I didn’t want to die or I didn’t want my children to get infected so that was a struggle by itself,” she shared.
As she spoke I remembered the months following COVID-19’s arrival in Guyana and how fear had almost paralysed some of us. Most of us were happy to at least have our children safe at home but this sister was forced to invite people into her home as she sought to earn.
“Well I had to do what I had to do because the children had to eat and I still had bills to pay so it was either that or maybe starve. And it was harder for some other people; remember a lot of people in this country don’t have a salary when the month end come. If you don’t work you can’t get no money so some of us had to get up and get,” the sister told me.
I understood what the sister was saying. It was and still is a real struggle for so many families. Many people, as happened worldwide, lost their jobs because of COVID-19 so the economic fallout was huge.
“After a time, girl, more and more people start coming and I start making a little money but it was still not enough. So I started to make pastries and other things and start selling and that was helping. I put out a stand in front of the yard and then some people used to order so at least that helped a lot,” she continued.
“But even so the salon business was not doing as well because of where I live. Some people didn’t want to have to catch public transportation and to get a taxi was too expensive so while some was willing to get the hair done they was still scared of the public transportation. So what you think I start doing?” she asked, not really expecting an answer.
“I start offering to go by my customers. Yes I would pack my things in a bag and I would take booking and I would travel and go and do the hair. Some people would help me out with the passage so at least that didn’t come out of the payment for the hairstyle. It was hard but when I could go and make $5,000 instead of sitting at home doing nothing I would get up and go,” she shared.
“More and more of my customers start taking up the offer you know and so I was making more money but I was out of the house a lot. The children get more involved with school and after a few months the big ones were even going to school but not every day and thankfully I had money to give them to do.
“That is how I survive this COVID-19 and thank God I never get sick nor any of me children. I did get one little scare because I went by a customer and she didn’t tell me that she and other persons in the house had COVID. I find out after when somebody died but thankfully as soon as I go home I used to strip down outside and so and I used to ensure I take my bush tea and so on. That was the only time,” she said.
“Now that the country open up back, I renting a smaller place in town and is just me alone. Business not as busy but it picking up and most of my old customers coming back. I just happy that me and my family survive so far and now things looking better for us. So I am grateful,” the sister told me.
I am happy for this sister. Like many others who have survived we have to be grateful; many others have not been that lucky. As mothers we do whatever it takes to ensure our children are provided for. On this note, I take time out to salute all mothers on this Mother’s Day.
