All is not well in Paradise.
In our Covid-19 confinement and curfew days we see some unusual things which affect our lives.
The imposed system of shopping by alphabetical order of family names and on fixed days is causing problems for many. There are long queues in the streets for access to supermarkets. We are a tropical island and the sun can be hot these days. We also have heavy torrential rain showers. You can imagine the uncomfortable situation many find themselves in just to buy necessities. The elderly and the sick such as diabetics are vulnerable in these situations. In the authorities confinement and practical planning, no thought has been included for the elderly or sick who are alone. The authorities believe that the scenario is that these vulnerable people all have other family members at home to assist them which is not the case.
The difficult situations that the population find themselves in means that, inevitably, people will find solutions which are not always the best and maybe dangerous during a pandemic time. There are illegal incidents from looting, stealing, to vendors selling from the backs of vans or trucks going around residential areas. We see a black market system starting. Suppliers are also imposing price hikes on supermarkets and small shops which is reflected on retail prices. The small shops union has also voiced that suppliers are favouring supermarkets and leaving small shops with dwindling stocks. The authorities keep repeating that there are ample supplies for the country and that there are no food shortages. However, reality, probably misleadingly suggests otherwise. Retail price hikes, imposition of only 3 of same article per person at supermarkets. The home delivery services are selling essential packs contents which are imposed on the buyer. You cannot make a choice of individual articles that you require. With all this, it does feel like we are in a rationing scenario without the ration card/book.
The consumer association is already making their voice heard with the authorities about price hikes but so far we have not heard any response. These kinds of incidents contribute to the building of anxiety in the population which will have long-term psychological consequences on a confined population.
I’ve been pondering whether we would be better to return to a ration card system . . .
Good thought, but then the “Black Market” will inevitably take a hold and in any case there is (apparently) no shortage of food being produced in the UK at least, so perhaps the governments should look at various other ways of allowing those in need to be able to get what they need.
A suggestion being adopted in some cases, is using an alphabetical order of who can get what on any given day, but even that can cause many frustrations – especially for those with needs as well as disabilities etc.
Clearly controls at the shops/supermarkets as to a maximum quantity allowed to be sold to each customer is already being trialled, but then those customers can go into several other stores and buy the same items to hoard-them, which is quite likely the scenario that has already the apparent shortages.
Ultimately it needs for all peoples around the world to use a little bit of common-sense and self-control, whilst taking the necessary advice and sticking to it, but hey-ho, in reality and as one of the saying goes :-
” You can teach some of the people – all of the time &
You can teach all of the people – some of the time, but
You cannot teach – all of the people all of the time. ”
BEST WISHES AND PLEASE SAFE & WELL
Mr.Terry
Thank you Gerard for those comments and which I can add that last Thursday when I saw the first of these queues that I mentioned in my previous reply and at my very local supermarket, I did in fact suffer a severe migraine/panic attack type of reaction for the next day or so.
Already for many-years being diagnosed from Migraine & Clusters-Migraine and have the necessary treatment for such, which did not seem to work now for this latest attack, did make me feel that the world is closing in on me and probably beginning to put me in a state of depression.
Thanks to two subsequent telephone-calls to two of my closest-friends, was able to get through that immediate-period and before Sunday, was able to see and find a way through this food-supply problem – as described in the blog.
Strength in talking – can often be a way of getting the advice from others and which very unusually for me, was a way forward.
KEEP WELL & SAFE Gerard
and BEST WISHES.
Mr. Terry
I entirely agree with all of your comments Mike and feel so sad for those in MU, that are being affected and made to suffer in the ways you have shown,
The exception here in my part of the UK is, that as yet I experienced no obvious price-hikes yesterday, when my ex and I took the car out to find some supermarkets – without those unnecessary long-queues (or any queue at all in our search) compared to my local supermarket where for some sad and unnecessary reason a queue of typically 20 – 40 people is now occurring – all the time !!!
(That journey was necessary, as both my ex and her mother were running out of their necessities and have no safe alternative
transport for that purpose of getting what was need for the next two-weeks or so)..
At least the weather here is dry, but rain later (as you mention) will do nothing but cause undue stress – to this situation.
I have seen that some supermarkets are paying people to stand at doors (acting as some sort of policeman – which they are not)
and acting as if they simply are loving to give orders to the customers and as if they were in charge of those customers, A tad like those of us who have experienced such in military training etc. A very pathetic-experience (of which I will never take such orders from such civilians unless there is a very good reason)…
Those very-large stores were virtually empty of customers and perhaps the only good-use of those budding policemen/corporals or whatever, would be to simply walk around those stores and when they see customers – “NOT KEEPING THEIR DISTANCES” and especially those customers who want to:-
“TOUCH AND HANDLE WHATEVER ITEMS WITHOUT BUYING THEM” – telling (or reminding at least) that this is part of the way of curtailing the spread of this and other diseases…
I have no doubt that prices will go up here, but with the price of oil and all its’ bi-products, and with the petrol prices having significantly dropped from typically 130 pence per litre down to just above a 100 pence per litre here within the UK, then there can be no-justification for any prices to increase in the UK – at all…
Unfortunately we usually live in a world of “greed” where there has always and will always be those who want to make us pay for such “greed” and unless those governments stamp-down immediately and very-hard on such “greedy-people” – this will continue and especially in these times around the world.
Also let’s face it, with the costs of trillions (of whichever currencies) being paid and lost forever in helping and trying to help and solve all the problems both now and in the future, it is inevitable that another hike in a price to pay, will be taxation. I fear that for many this will significantly show-up in their wage-packets and purchasing-taxes for all etc., etc. No country can simply print money to repay for all that has and will need to be done, to put matters right and back to where they were before this crises began in China during December 2019. The alternative to that – would be to stop spending so much as can often be seen around (me at least), but that would also cause significant financial problems to the ‘work-forces’ / manufacturing-industries & governments etc.
I certainly feel for and wish for all those who are now suffering in which ever way that they are, a speedy recovery and return to normality and PLEASE STAY SAFE and KEEP WELL…
Mr.Terry
Profiteering in these circumstances is indeed aberrant and the authorities should take the necessary action to stop it! The community spirit in Mauritius is strong and I hope that people will help each other in this difficult period! Things are a bit better here in the U.K. but the problem of complete isolation for the elderly may eventually lead to mental health problems if it is not addressed! Let’s hope this pandemic recedes in the coming weeks!