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It is after 3 p.m. and an islandwide curfew that has been imposed to help contain the dreaded COVID-19 virus is in effect. Maurice Sinclair, an employee at King Alarm, is standing at the bus stop in Lawrence Tavern, St Andrew. He said that he has been there for the longest while, awaiting transportation to get to work. It is not unusual for persons to be subjected to period of long waits to get public transport on holidays, but this not a normal Easter Monday.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness last week ordered a curfew, which has been imposed as a public health measure, would start from 3p.m. over the Easter holidays. The stay-in order measure ends at 7 a.m. each day.

Sinclair, who is considered an essential service worker, is exempted under the orders, but getting about his business has not been easy.

Cyah get nuh bus

"Me cyah get nuh bus. A from 2 'o clock me deh here a wait but because a di curfew the taxi dem nah work. A really seven me work start but me affi leave me yard early before three when a curfew time," he said.

"If you have your own ride you good, but fi we it hard," said Sinclair, who lives in Glengoffe.

He was not suffering alone. Scores of other essential workers stood at bus and taxi stands throughout sections of the Corporate Area, hoping to get transportation. Sinclair and others who were in Lawrence Tavern were taken out of their misery after a policeman permitted a taxi operator to transport the essential workers.

The taxi operator, however, said he would be doubling his fare since he is taking a risk.

"A $100 me charge dem still but a $200 now," he said.

Sinclair was gutted.

"Yuh see it, a $100 fi go Half-Way Tree and because of corona dem a charge we $200, but we just affi work with it," he said.

Starting today, the nightly curfews will begin at 9 and end at 5 in the mornings.