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While most business operators are being affected by the COVID-19 lockdown, Clifford 'Mellon Man' Blygen and his friend Kemar 'Fire' Salmon, operators of a mini snack bar on Pechon Street, downtown Kingston, have been going the extra mile in order to survive.

In order to keep their business afloat, they have been living in their business spaces.

"We like nightlife. The business go 24 hour. My yard is even right close to here but me just stick to me business and dedicate to it," Salmon told THE STAR. "The security guards, police officers and night workers need snacks so we have to be here. Remember, even if the security force give them food, it's not enough because them at a post whole night so them must get hungry."

"Right through the night we stay in the shop and people know that we are here so them just pull down and get serve," Blygen added.

The men explained that the curfew hours have impacted them somewhat but they have been fighting.

"Business was much brighter, but since the COVID, things a bit slower because a lot of people not on the road. But we know how the system set. From certain disease come out, we have to just stay low," said Blygen. "But honestly, me nuh really have a problem with the curfew hours because me still a eat a food and me youths them all right; things coulda worse."

Likewise, Salmon expressed gratitude that he still has a source of income amid all the turmoil.

GRATEFUL

"It might not be a quantity like what we use to get before, but me still give thanks that me can make some money for the kids," he told THE STAR. "Me feel better that we get back the two extra hours fi the curfew too because the 4 p.m. curfew (businesses had to close at that time) was painful. Things don't really sell in the morning but when it reach the evening when people ready to go home, that's when we earn little more dollar."

When asked if they have been protecting themselves from the virus, Salmon quickly pointed to a bottle of alcohol which was on a shelf, and explained that they have been using garlic as a natural remedy.

"I juice the garlic and we rub up we hand them because them say it kill any germs, and we do it as soon as we sell someone," he said. "The alcohol now, we use it to spray the people them hand that come here."

Blygen cautioned persons about the severity of COVID-19.

"Everybody need to understand that this thing is not a joke thing so everybody have to just do what they can to protect each other from this corona," he said.