COVID Chronicles: Viewers Share What They Miss During the Pandemic
Here at News Five we are so happy to have one of our reporters back with us. Marion Ali, who was hospitalized with COVID-19, will be doing next week’s COVID Chronicles. She will share with you her experiences battling the disease and the challenges still facing her as she recovers. But this week, News Five’s Paul Lopez decided to survey some of you, our viewers, both in person and on Facebook, to find out what you are missing most under COVID-19 restrictions. Some of the responses showed deep reflection, while others are proof of just how good Belizeans are at taking “bad tings mek laugh.”
Paul Lopez
We have been in a pandemic for the better part of the last two years, which has meant restriction up on restriction. But, believe it or not, there were actually days when we did not have COVID and restrictions. We are out here in downtown Belize City today to find out what people are saying they miss the most about those days.
Resident #1
“Mih miss mih nineteenth, mih miss mih La Ruta Maya, me miss the twenty first, me miss everything. All the activities me miss. So I wah COVID hawl ih r**S .”
Whitney Swift
Whitney Swift, Channel Five Employee
“What I miss the most is the September celebrations. For me, coming from a creative background, I love dancing and everything about it. I am one of those persons that participate in Carnival every year. I participate in the pageants, the opening, everything you name it and I am there. So I miss that the most.”
Resident #2
“Well I only miss my friends, school when we guh bout, only that.”
Resident #3
“Going out, have fun, heng with your friends, see all ah deh, hug miss all ah dat.”
Duane Moody
Duane Moody, Reporter
“One of the things with being a reporter, it’s about engaging with people, people from different walks of life. And due to the pandemic and being so conscious of the public health concerns, you can’t. So, I think that is has caused us to disconnect with people who we go to get their stories. So we are not able to share it the way we used to. I think that is what I miss the most.”
Paul Lopez
“What dah the one thing you miss the most bout deh times before we had COVID?”
Resident #4
“Bway well I miss deh babes come hail me and thing yo dig.”
Resident #5
“The outdoor clubbing, school..”
Paul Lopez
“Clubbing?”
Resident #5
“School .”
Resident #6
“Weh I miss? I can’t seh weh I miss.”
Resident #7
“Family times; something simple as giving your family members a hug now, is something that you would have consider. Going over to your sister’s house or your mom or dad, is something you have to think twice about now.”
Resident #8
“Dah just having like a one on one connection with people, especially my church family, I kinda miss going to church and having that relationship, like face to face with them.”
Resident #9
“Wih miss Chetumal.”
Resident #10
“Just sports bredda, cause lotta the youth the dead out day by day. Just the lee activity to keep the youths them active.”
Resident #11
“One thing I miss before COVID start, I miss my good clients, I miss family time, I miss going to my wife house and my wife coming to my house, I miss hanging out with my daughter. And I want to big up all mih costumers weh believe eena mih.”
Resident #12
“Spending time with family.”
Resident #13
“One thing I miss the most dah get pan James Bus and guh down South dah Sittee River and spend a full day with my son and sister and rest ah family, cause dah only me deh yah, all my rest ah family deh dah Sitte River.”
Paul Lopez
“Anya, you know what dah COVID 19? What dah COVID -19.”
Resident #14
“A virus.”
Paul Lopez
“How you feel about the Corona Virus?”
Resident #14
“I feel sad because I can’t guh dah school with my friends.”
Marion Ali
Marion Ali, Reporter
“I miss the freedom of having to breathe without this restriction. That is one. I miss the option of having the borders open so that we can experience our neighbors.”
Here are some of the responses we received on Facebook.We also asked people: what is the first thing you will do when COVID 19 is contained and restrictions are lifted?
Resident #1
“I wah got wah party and I wah hurray hurrah, bap badda bap bap. And who nuh like it drop. Who wah vomit vomit, dah deh business.”
Paul Lopez
“What dah the first thing you wah duh when COVID finally disappear?”
Resident #13
“Well, guh weh part Sweet Pain deh, and then guh dah mih family.”
Paul Lopez
“Oh suh you wah guh bruk down?”
Resident #13
“I wah guh put it back.”
Resident #15
“First thing I wah do is, hopefully the border open and thing, guh cross dah Chetumal guh spend a whole week.”
Resident #16
“Well, come back to reality, go to church and enjoy yourself.”
Resident #12
“Well, seek the Lord, and have him more in life, because only he can get me through this rough times.”
Resident #10
“First thing I wah do dah thank God, dah numba one.”
Paul Lopez
“You sis?”
Resident #9
“Plan a trip dah Chetumal.”
Resident #4
“Bway well, I just wah link up deh sauce and you know.”
Resident #5
“Ker out mih best friend, take out mih best friend cause ah owe ah.”
Several persons encouraged getting vaccinated as a means towards getting back to the freedoms we once enjoyed.
Dwayne Moody
“I feel like we have to do what we have to do, whether it is getting vaccinated, or adhering to the social distancing guidelines, do something.”
Whitney Swift
“We are hoping in the future it comes back and we can all be vaccinated and party again with each other.”
Marion Ali, Reporter
“So please, just follow the regulations and go get your vaccination.”
Resident #11
“Ah done tek mih COVID Vaccine, Yeah Johnson.”
Paul Lopez
“Why you choose the Johnson?”
Resident #11
“I choose the Johnson because I dah wah business man, one shot, one shot and done because I dah wah enterepenuer.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
So what are you missing most during COVID or looking forward to doing once more? Go to Channel Five’s Facebook page and share your answers.
