DOGGED DETERMINATION!
Man who lost his left hand is Male Household Worker of the Year
VIOLENTLY ROBBED of his left hand and later losing two sons in gun-related incidents, 56-year-old property caretaker-handyman Michael Brown has had his fair share of misery and despair.
But through it all, Brown, this year’s recipient of the Male Household Worker of the Year Award, maintained his sanity and faith in God, never allowing his work ethic to wane but instead, intensify.
“My family is what kept me going after I lost my hand, my five children, and their mom,” Brown declared moments after the award ceremony at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Tuesday.
Brown lost his hand more than 20 years ago after a machete came into play during an altercation with another caretaker, someone he said he regarded as a friend.
“That guy who do me like this used to hold my son, who is 32 years old now, in his arms. We had a silly argument. He went away and came back, talking tough. Little did I know at the time that he had the machete concealed in his pants, and his intention was to chop me up,” he revealed.
Brown explained that the mental shock of losing a hand while doing his job forced him to leave the property for a short time, but he
returned out of love for his job and the support he received from his employers.
“I work as any normal man can,” he said, beaming. “So I would encourage employers not to view someone as lesser because they’ve lost a hand or a foot or even blind. It’s about what is on the inside, the determination, because a person can have two feet, two hands, able-bodied, and don’t worth anything,” he added.
He further imparted advice to persons in similar circumstances.
“Don’t feel sorry for yourself. Don’t sit down and pity yourself because life is there to live. Forget the hand that gone. Forget the foot and just live on,” he said.
Earlier, there was hardly a dry eye in the Grand Jamaican Suite at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel as master of ceremonies Fae Ellington read his nomination letter written by his long-time employer and introduced a short video clip of Brown carrying out his duties and speaking candidly.
Brown, who has just acquired a piece of land that belonged to his deceased mother, is planning to use his $330,000 cash reward to start construction of his first house.
Started in 2014, the GraceKennedy/ Heather LittleWhite Household Worker of the Year Award recognises and rewards Jamaica’s household workers.
It is presented in the name of the late Dr Heather Little-White in recognition of her years of service at GraceKennedy, her training of household workers, and her dedication to the improvement of their skills and their lives.
Rosemarie Forrester copped the Female Household Worker of the Year Award, and along with Brown, received a cash reward of $330,000, $25,000 in Hi-Lo gift vouchers, and $100,000 towards educational advancement.