Senior citizen ready to rebuild after fire
Eugennie Smith, 78, has been disobeying the Government’s order that senior citizens should stay at home, as they are more vulnerable to contract COVID-19. She has also turned a deaf ear to the warnings of her six children. Smith was adamant that she had to visit her stall daily in Rae Rae Market on West Queen Street in downtown Kingston where she sells clothing.
When she heard about the latest fire at the market on Tuesday morning, she felt defeated. She has been burnt out three times already. Thankfully, she did not lose any goods this time. She had her items in barrels stored in containers.
“But the stall burn down and financially, I don’t have any help. I am old. Now that me get burn out, me nuh know weh fi turn. And me nuh have no other source or no help,” the Gregory Park resident told THE STAR.
Smith said she has been in several arguments with her children who have been begging her to stay home. But she is adamant that staying home is not an option.
PAY MY LITTLE BILLS
“If I don’t come out here, I caa pay my little bills dem or buy my medication,” she said, noting that her children haven’t been able to provide for her since COVID-19 reached Jamaica. “If I come out here, I can even get a $500 and on a Sunday me can boil likkle soup fi me dinner. More time nothing nah gwan out here, but me prefer fi come outa the yard and come among the people dem.”
When asked about disobeying the Government’s orders, Smith said: “Me old of course, but me can move around and help me self. So at this present moment, me nuh think me have nothing more fi seh.”
Despite another setback, she is already thinking about rebuilding as vending is a necessity in her life.
“They charge me about $5,000 to build the stall at the cheapest rate. And I have to buy the pallet, the nails and the shed to go over me head. Me nuh know weh me a go do, or weh nobody can do fi me. But right now, me nuh have nuh dollars in a me hand. Me medication dear and me afi try put out fi dat,” she said.
– R.L.