AS COVID RUINS BACK-TO-SCHOOL PLANS
Asmall business operator who has been feeling the pinch from the economic fallout of the novel coronavirus is appealing to Jamaicans to take the threat of COVID-19 seriously while also imploring them to adhere to the safety measures instituted by the Government.
Maureen Pinto, 61, who is a well-known seamstress in Bedward Gardens, St Andrew, said that she has not been able to make a single sale since the pandemic began last year.
But despite this, Pinto, whose main source of income is to make school uniforms for persons in and around her community, is still hoping that one day things will return to normal.
“I make uniforms for a lot of people and not just people in my community. I had customers from several different schools in St Andrew,” Pinto told THE STAR yesterday afternoon.
In an attempt to control the spread of COVID- 19, schools were ordered closed by the Government, with face-to-face learning in classrooms giving way to online classes. Like many of her colleagues, Pinto’s daily life has been negatively hampered as COVID-19 restrictions have hit their businesses hard.
“I can’t pay my bills, I can’t take care of my house but I am still pushing through hoping that someday school will reopen. I have so much completed uniforms here in the shop and at my house because those who had ordered from last year decided not to come for them because schools were closed,” she said. “So what I have decided to do is to buy snacks for the shop and fowl feeding because I am doing a little something on the side.”
She added “Right now I don’t have any light because JPS cut it and the water bill is way up at the moment,” she said. Pinto said that she is still uncertain whether she’ll take the vaccine as she has a heart problem.
“With the vaccine, a lot of doubts have been placed in the people’s minds but this thing will become mandatory. I have some medical issues and a heart problem, so I really don’t know what will happen right now,” she said.
Education Minister Fayval Williams recently stated that the Government has put its plans to resume face-to-face classes on hold until the end of the year as it pushes its COVID-19 vaccination programme for students 12 years and older.
“This has affected me badly, more than what I can tell. This is what I use to take care of myself, children and paying bills. I am really hoping that all of this can be resolved very soon,” said Pinto.