Food store worker says the new normal is ‘a nightmare’

With the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic having a widespread effect, essential worker Aaron Curtis, 53, said his new normal is a stressful experience.

Curtis is an assistant meat manager at a local grocery store who told The Nassau Guardian that while he is grateful to still be employed, his new everyday schedule is “like a nightmare”.

“To be honest, what I see going on is like a nightmare,” Curtis said.

“I’m a butcher in one of the major food stores in Nassau. I live in the Carmichael Road area and work in Nassau Village. I have to be at work for 5 a.m. every morning.

“I’m stopped by the Royal Bahamas Police Force at Gladstone Road’s entrance to Cowpen and Blue Hill Road south red lights, then again at East Street south red lights by the police station. And as you continue eastward towards Pinewood communities, you’re again stopped at the roundabout by the Royal Bahamas Police Force.”

He added, “Then the stress just begins when I arrive at work. The customers are parked in their cars from the beginning of Xtra Value’s parking-lot gates to Solider Road.

“You see inside Xtra Value’s parking lot, the line started from by the gate straight to the entrance of the food store; and from this coronavirus pandemic reached our shores, this has been my work schedule ever since – from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. and during the weekend lockdowns.”

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in The Bahamas last month, the country has remained in a state of emergency.

Most businesses were ordered to close, and a 24-hour curfew and weekend-long lockdowns were implemented in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus.

Police blockades throughout New Providence routinely stop drivers in an effort to ensure they are not violating curfew or lockdown, while long lines to get into banks, grocery stores and other businesses remain the norm.

Curtis said these long lines mean a busy day ahead for him.

Because of the nonstop flow of customers, he has had to shift from working 48 hours per week and having a few days off, to having to work six days in a row every week.

“When the stress really starts for me at work is [when] that line is so long and you’re not getting no time to eat or anything,” Curtis said.

“So all I’m living off regularly is energy drinks when I reach to work.”

But he added that by the time he gets home in the evening, his wife is usually waiting for him with a meal.

Curtis’ wife was among the many Bahamians who were laid off, being a worker in the tourism industry, but Curtis said she has applied for unemployment benefits with the National Insurance Board (NIB).

Working at the grocery store also has it perks, as Curtis said he is able to shop for his groceries when he arrives early in the morning so he doesn’t have to go through the hassle of trying to toe a line to get supplies.

“I pretty much eat, sleep and pray to God for this coronavirus pandemic to soon be over with, so my lifestyle can return to normal again from this nightmare which is so unreal,” Curtis said.

He added, “With this global coronavirus pandemic it’s a very serious but most of all a scary time in our lives in The Bahamas.”

The post Food store worker says the new normal is ‘a nightmare’ appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/2020/04/27/food-store-worker-says-the-new-normal-is-a-nightmare/