Hard life in Cornpiece Settlement for Barbara Thompson

ASHAMED of her deplorable living conditions, 52-year-old Barbara Thompson is crying out for help.

Thompson, her 13-yearold daughter, another of her daughters, and two grandchildren live in a shack in Cornpiece Settlement, Hayes, Clarendon.

According to her, the living conditions make her frustrated, knowing especially that her 13-year-old daughter attends one of the top schools in Clarendon. Her dream is to be able to enjoy a more comfortable life as she continues to cheer on the last of her eight children to always strive for excellence.

“I am so desperate and I would like if somebody could help me to buy some more blocks and cement or probably some board. I am not stressing anybody but I have my little daughter going to school and things are terrible. Every week mi affi find $5,000 for bus fare. When she comes in, mi affi prepare food now and then. Mi nuh really have the work to give her every little thing. I have eight children but only she alone me have around me. Sometimes I get a little day work and I would jump around and do a likkle mason work and burn coal,” Thompson said, explaining that two of her eight children are of unsound mind and she has no clue where one of them is.

Thompson shared that she has very limited access to water and therefore has to store water in two drums behind where she lives. Her toilet, which sits in the back of her yard about 10 metres from her dilapidated wooden house, is sometimes used by passersby who leave the area messy, causing her great inconvenience.

“Sometime it just leggo. Pickney just come use it and nuh care how you scour, it dem come. Mi need help man. Me and mi likkle daughter sleep pon di bed. “she said.

Thompson shared that she used to raise chickens but the fowl coop got destroyed. She expressed hope that she will be able to raise chickens again.

“The coop rotten. I will raise more if I get it, of course.”

People who are able to assist Thompson to raise chickens again and to build a more comfortable abode can contact her at (876) 827-0983.

(Photos: Garfield Robinson) This is the dilapidated house in Cornpiece Settlement, Hayes, Clarendon, where Barbara Thompson lives. To the left of this old stove is where Barbara Thompson takes her showers. Barbara Thompson tells her story of destitution to the Jamaica Observer.

This is where Barbara Thompson relieves herself of bodily waste.