‘I’m running out of money’

The outbreak of COVID-19 in The Bahamas has affected every aspect of society, from large-scale businesses like the Atlantis resort to roadside vendors like Delano Hart.

Hart, 42, said he is doing his best to keep his head above water with the “couple dollars” he still has.

“Food ain’t no problem for right now,” Hart told The Nassau Guardian in a recent interview.

“I have couple dollars inside my pocket if I need something…but I’m running out fast.

“You’re only spending money and ain’t making it back. That don’t make no sense.”

The country has been in a state of emergency for over a month, with most businesses being ordered closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Only just this week have the orders begun to be relaxed, with some businesses being allowed to operate on certain days.

But thousands of Bahamians remain unemployed and without any source of income.

Hart said this has impacted his businesses not only from a day-to-day perspective, but also because it interrupted a business venture he had been working on.

“It affected me big time, because just before the lockdown, I was just trying to get some business dealt with, some real important business dealt with,” Hart said.

“I was counting on the money from it now because this deal that I was working on could have propelled me good. I would have been firm and solid, man, after this deal.

“Now the money, it dwindled down and I have to try to make the money back. It’s a good thing it ain’t plenty money that I have to accumulate back for it.”

In spite of it all, Hart is not panicking about the pandemic.

He also said he feels Bahamians on the whole are taking the matter seriously, but he is concerned about the government’s approach.

“As a whole, we’re taking it seriously…,” he said.

“There’s been some slip-ups. For the amount of numbers, yeah, a little bit. They could be a little bit more serious, though.

“But my main concern is how the government is dealing with it. I don’t think the regulations [are] fair.

“And the regulations are dangerous because they have everybody home, home, home, home, home and then giving you one day to come out to the shop. Then that means the crowd will be right there.”

The government’s 24-hour curfew has remained in place since March 24, during which everyone is required to remain at home unless for “necessary travel”.

Weekend-long lockdowns also close all businesses, with few exceptions, and further restrict movement.

But on Mondays, as lockdowns ended and the curfew came back into play, it has not been uncommon to see scores of people lining up at grocery stores, banks and other operations.

Hart said he personally just tries to visit small stores instead of large ones in an attempt to avoid the crowds and stay safe.

But overall, he said, his attitude is just to “give thanks” and hope for the best.

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/2020/04/22/im-running-out-of-money/