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A few fisherfolk at the Old Harbour fishing village in St Catherine said they are feeling rather relieved now that the parish lockdown has been lifted.

They say they are now better able to fend for themselves by reviving their livelihood.

Headley Reynolds, 79, told THE STAR that since COVID-19 lockdown, his only stream of income has been drastically affected.

"Around three weeks now a the first time me a get fi go sea. The solider man dem come yah come lock off the beach. A whole heap a money me pay fi oil and ting so we must want to make back something," he said.

Even though the islandwide curfew is still in effect, Reynolds remains grateful for the few hours granted.

"Now that the lockdown lifted we can have a better chance, things can work out better now," Reynolds said. "We still don't have a lot of time but a little food can eat. Now we can draw our fish pot. This is better than nothing because, trust me, it rough."

Likewise, Allan Miller said he will now be able to frequent the sea as opposed to when he was forced to remain indoors.

Better chance

"When there was no lockdown, we go a sea like every other day. But through the lockdown, we never get to go. Now we can go every other day once the current lift. We all have a better chance to draw the fish pot them so we He is enthused about resurging from the loss he suffered because of the lockdown.

"A nuff money fishermen spend on oil, all $18,000 a week. So to be home not working, it hard, because we lose everything and that can't work. So now me just a rearrange to go back out because me want to make back some money," Miller told THE STAR.

St Catherine was placed under a Government imposed two-week lockdown to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The lockdown, which started on April 15, was extended twice due to a spike in COVID-19 cases linked to the Alorica call centre in Portmore.

The lockdown was lifted last Friday, but persons are still expected to adhere to the islandwide curfew restrictions.

Meanwhile, Randa Campbell, 55, who makes a living from scaling fish, said she is taking advantage of the freedom.

"Me feel good to be back outside, man, because me can see if me can get likkle food to eat and bring in something. Right now the fisherman dem gone out and me a wait to see what me can get when them come in," she said.

"From the COVID come in about a month now I don't do no good hustling, because me have asthma so I don't really come out. Me come now still because a good while now mi deh home and nothing nah gwan," she added.