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Source Media: The Star
Commercial sex workers in Montego Bay say they have been left penniless over the entire Christmas holidays due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The disgruntled women told THE STAR that 2020 has been their worst year.
"Wi a smaddy too, an wi haffi voice wi concern too, because a wi mek nuff things happen fi nuff a di big man dem inna 'Bay, an right now wi want di place fi free up because all a wi bruck," one who gave her name as 'Tulip', said. "Wi caa stay pon road fi greet wi customer dem again, and most a dem as yu know come pick wi up inna the later part a di night, but wid dem new restrictions yah massa, no sex naw sell again."
She said the municipal authorities keeping vendors off the road has also hampered their business, as they often get clients "Wen a man come buy him cigarette or him liquor" from the vendors. Tulip, who was sitting with four co-workers along Harbour Street, said even the early closure of businesses due to the curfew, has affected them.
"Normally inna di night wi have some little corner inside a some building weh wi carry a customer go do a quicky, fi a $500, or a $1,000, but di business place dem affe lock off early a nite time now, so wi lose all a dem little hustling deh," she said. Other workers say they have been barely getting by since November.
Another worker, who identified herself as Wendy, said some of them used to make $20,000 or $30,000 a night.
"Seet yah, a from morning mi out yah so, an not even a dolla mi nu mek yet. Di thing set a way yah now, because nuff a di man dem fraid fi buy a day time. Most a dem a married man, live wid dem wife an family. So dem cah come pon di corners inna broad daylight, or yu know how it wi go already," she stated.
They said that if things continue at the current pace, in 2021, they are strongly thinking of creating a formal group to lobby for themselves.
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