No mask, plenty of service

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"No Mask, No Service,” the headline of the May 17 Sunday Newsday proclaimed. I took the paper from the newsstand and headed to the cashier. Despite the PM’s directive (for businesses to enforce a use-of-mask policy) in the start of phase two of the reopening of the economy, no one in the small establishment, cashier included, was wearing a mask. It was business as usual (ie pre-coronavirus usual).

On a subsequent occasion, after washing my hands prior to entry as mandated, I donned a “Be Kind To Animals” mask (manufactured en masse and donated by David Ramnath and Sons to various animal rescue groups and NGOs in TT).

However, my facial ensemble was somewhat of an oddity, as the mask-free look was in vogue among customers and staff. Only one man had a mask, not on his face, but slung under his jaw like a chin hammock. Maybe he didn’t want to wear it and be the "odd one out."

“What about ‘No mask, no service?'” I asked the cashier pleasantly. A shrug was the response. Maybe telling customers "No mask, no service" could result in lost business if (a) people don’t have masks on them and (b) another business place serves them mask-free.

The next morning my vehicle was stopped at a roadblock. A young mask-free officer charmingly asked me for my DP and car insurance.

“No mask, no service,” I (also mask-free) said.

I had a bag of David Ramnath & Sons facemasks with me and gave one to him. Printed on the mask was: “Stop Animal Cruelty.”

The grateful officer put it in his pocket, I assume to be sanitised and worn later.

The day after, I met two friends at the airport to help them with the process of flying an adopted puppy to her new home in Trinidad. I had left home with a cloth mask tied around my neck, hanging against my upper chest, but just as we were about to enter the CAL ticketing office I realised that the mask had fallen off without my realising. As the sign on the door clearly stated no one could enter without a mask, I had to stay outside.

Later that day I went to purchase an item for a project. As I pulled up in front of the establishment I realised that I had no mask with me. Envisioning not being allowed to enter without one, I drove back home, which fortunately was not too far away.

About 15 people were milling around in the establishment when I returned.

Except for the cashier, one employee with a "chin hammock" and me, no one wore a mask. “Do you all follow the ‘no mask, no service’ policy?” I asked the cashier as I paid for my item.

(NB I am not the self-appointed mask police, nor am I judging those who are not wearing masks. I simply enjoy observing and, in a sociological-study kind of way, am curious about (if not fascinated and slightly amused by) the number of people who seem to be blatantly disregarding the "no mask, no service" directive. Is it that people (a) don’t read/listen, (b) don’t find masks effective, (c) don’t have masks, (d) don’t care, (e) all of the above?

“No,” the cashier said.

No mask, but service as usual.

As soon as I left the store I took my mask off. I don’t like to wear it (who does?) but wearing one to enter establishments is brief and, once in an indoor public space, is the etiquette of the day.

For some, it is also a fashion statement. Some people look pleased to wear their masks, especially if made of a special fabric. I’ve seen branded prints (Carib, bmobile, Radical Designs), African prints, tie-dye creations, crochet overlays, bandanas. Some people seem to favour masks that look like face moulds, embracing and emphasising facial features...as opposed to those that simply stretch flat across the face.

While I don’t see the mask as a fashion statement per se, I like the idea of it functioning as a walking billboard. "Be Kind To Animals" is a message that I want the world to embrace.

Outside Pennysavers (one establishment that seems to practise the mandatory mask policy), I asked a woman what message she would proclaim to the world by printing it on her mask.

“A smiley face,” she said. “In these times, we need to keep smiling."

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"No mask, plenty of service"

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