Don’t let our goods spoil - St Mary market vendors fear the worst during 14-day COVID quarantine

Except for the few vendors who were securing their goods, the usually busy Metcalfe Market in Annotto Bay, St Mary, was empty on Thursday.

Stalls were turned over and small shops were closed, the first day of the government-imposed 14-day quarantine of three communities, Dover, Enfield and Annotto Bay.

The quarantine is a means of reducing the spread of COVID-19, as 13 persons have tested positive for the virus in the parish so far.

Euston Lord and three other vendors were busy packing up loads of ground produce.

Lord worried that a portion of the $150,000 worth of goods that he purchased on Wednesday may become spoil in three days or less.

"Mi go town on Wednesday go buy mi tings dem and plan to start sell today. But this morning (Thursday), mi see a lot of police and soldiers and them tell us that there was no selling today and we must pack up our things and go home. But mi tell dem we can't do that because no security isn't at the market and a nuff time people tief mi tings dem," he said.

Lord said that they were given the green light to guard their items but was told that they should remain inside the market.

"Friday is we market day because a lot of the persons who live here are Adventists. If we can't sell on Friday, a lot a mi goods dem a go spoil so mi waa know what mi a go do with them. If mi did know this a go happen, mi wouldn't buy so much tings," he stated.

Just give us a day to sell

In addition to melon, Lord also has bags of scallion, thyme, cucumber, tomato, and other foods.

"Mi woulda love if them would just give us a day to sell out dem stuff here or even come and value the stuff them and carry them go infirmary or Food For The Poor, but mi nuh want mi money blow up suh. See mi all cut the melon deh but mi can't eat all of it, so mi have to give it away and the rest spoil," Lord added.

THE WEEKEND STAR caught up with Dr Norman Dunn, member of parliament for South East St Mary, who had earlier visited the quarantine areas.

Dunn stated that while the residents had a few concerns regarding their well-being for the two-week period, they were very cooperative and were following the guidelines set by the Government.

"As you can imagine persons were surprised when they saw all the military personnel in and around the area, but they understand what is happening and there is a great sense of co-operation. There is some anxiety of course, as persons are concerned about what they are going to eat and how they are going to buy their stuff. But outside of that everyone is co-operating. The health and military persons have not expressed any issue with the residents at all," Dunn said.