Easter under confinement |01 April 2021

The ambience in the market yesterday (Photo: Thomas Meriton)

As Easter day approaches, many Seychellois are still feeling the toll that this pandemic has left upon us but the Seychellois spirit is still high and many people intend to make this time as special as possible at home with their families.

Yesterday we had a little tour around town to get a feel of the Easter shopping ambiance, or lack thereof, and the thoughts of the public about Easter under confinement.

Victoria was moderately busy with a quiet atmosphere. Our first stop was the ‘Cold Storage’ retailer of goods, which was very busy with people mostly shopping for Easter Sunday lunch. A lady customer said that even though things are not the same, she and her family will have a small gathering at home to commemorate the most important Christian holiday.

We paid a visit to the book and stationery store ‘Cosmorama’ where they had even set up a small Easter section with Easter themed decorations, which were being sold considerably well. It seemed that there was a semi lively shopping ambiance but people were only buying certain products. Merchants selling clothes, fabric, jewelry and goods of that sort are suffering, while merchants selling foodstuff are thriving.

The p.R.J Boulangerie and the Butcher’s shop are examples where business was brisk. A butcher who has been selling meat for 58 years exclaimed that this market has never been so great. “It seems like more and more people are buying meat, in greater amounts as well. This Easter season is going well and the pandemic has not affected my sales,” he said.

A representative from the Boulangerie explained how they are almost always open and so business goes on as before.

Fishermen seemed to be most affected by the pandemic situation. Philip, who was at the market selling his fish, was regretful to tell us how slow business had been for him and most of his other colleagues. But there was a hint of hope when he mentioned that there were a few tourists around now which could stimulate the sale of fish again.

The atmosphere was not what would usually be expected for an occasion like this, but understandably so, we asked a few passersby their thoughts on the matter.

“We will enjoy in tranquility, which will be tough but we have no choice” – Natalie.

“People are still recovering from the brush with death, so most of us will celebrate low-key” – Solange.

“We have fallen in deep water, Churches have not even been opened, and this is a tragedy because it is tradition for us to go to church on Saturday night or Easter morning, but this year we are stripped of that” – Mrs Bristol.

This year Easter is different, quieter, but certainly not any less meaningful, so it is important that we keep our chins up and celebrate as we can, being mindful of what Easter really means to each one of us.

Iza Amade