Rosadel McKenzie lost her job in March and has been struggling ever since.

McKenzie, a widow and mother of two, was one of dozens of Bahamians crowded outside the National Insurance Board (NIB) headquarters yesterday, hoping to receive an unemployment check ahead of a two-week lockdown.

Cases of COVID-19 continue to spike after the country reopened its borders on July 1.

McKenzie said she has been trying to make ends meet to help her family survive throughout the pandemic.

“For two weeks I was going to the bank checking, and nothing was there so that’s why I’m up here today hoping that I would get some answers,” she said.

Following the initial unemployment benefit program, the government agreed to fund an extension of 13 weeks.

NIB paid out approximately $8.7 million to 18,000 Bahamian workers as a part of the program.

McKenzie, who has two daughters who are dependent on her, said it is difficult to make ends meet with no stable source of income.

“My children look to me and I don’t have no one to look up to so I look to God,” she said through tears.

She said she also sought help from the Department of Social Services, but was turned around because of an error in the system.

With two months of pay exhausted, she is hopeful that her money will reach in time before the lockdown.

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