Two very poor Old Harbour families touched by police outreach programme

The programme, supported by several local businesses, was able to blow a breath of fresh air into the homes of 74-year-old Thomas King and Latoya Scafe, a 30-year-old mother of four.

Such an act of generosity was made possible after members of the Old Harbour Police Youth Club and the police’s community and safety unit, while delivering covid-19 care packages in the community, recently came across their plight.

Scafe and her children reside in a dilapidated board dwelling approximately 144 square feet. The heavy downpour of rain brought her unpleasant living condition into stark reality, as the roof leaked like a sieve. The foul odor emanating from the room carried a strong stench of urine with it, as the team get to work shortly after arriving in overcast conditions.

Mattresses, bed linens, curtains, pillows and linoleum were some of the items donated to the homes of King and Scafe who have been living in the community – many only know as ‘Hog Sh*t Lane’ – for many years now.

As the crew got their hands dirty, Scafe said to Old Harbour News “I’m feeling bless and thanking God for everything”.

The mother of one-year-old twin – a boy and a girl – does domestic work for a living among other odd jobs, but has been unemployed for months, she told us. She has been struggling all her life, she said, particularly after her mother died. She was only 14 years old at the time. The father of their eight year-old child, she said, rejected her, while her eldest child – a 12-year-old boy, was with his father at the time the team was present.

“The truth be told is that our intent was to work through Food for the Poor or other corporate bodies to see if we could actually construct a home for this family because that is really what they need,” said commander in charge of the Old Harbour Police sub-division DSP Damion Manderson.

“The place is very dilapidated. The conditions that they have to live in… in fact one of the children is in the hospital for the past three weeks because of an illness which I believe is contributed by the environment that they live in.”

About 50 metres away another group was similarly cleaning the home of King, a single-leg amputee, who up to a month ago was up and about normally. Three weeks ago, though, King suffered a major stroke which left him helpless and speechless. The very unfortunate turn in misfortunes has compounded matters for the family of four. However, the gesture by the police and its corporate partners has given the family hope.

King’s daughter-in-law Letecia ‘Tiny’ Sparkes was overwhelmed with gratitude, exclaiming that she “feel one hundred percent good” as the team removed unwanted items from the wooden structure made out of ply board.

Sparkes, a higgler at the May Pen market, said time spent peddling her wares these days has been significantly impacted.

“Mi use to go to market but since him get di strokes mi afi a stay bak fi elp tek care a him, until som family memba chip e’en an se dem wuda help out,” she reasoned with Old Harbour News.

Prior to the coronavirus breakout, Sparkes said her partner would do jerk chicken on the street sides at nights to add to their small financial coffers. But that once steady stream of income has all dried up because of strict curfew orders imposed to curtail the spread of the virus.

“A months now him no do no work, so it difficult for him to as well,” lamented Sparkes who along with her 12-year-old daughter are both physically challenged themself.

Whitney Manderson, public relations officer, Jamaica Bedding said: “Jamaica Bedding is a family company with a brand that caters for the people. One of the things about the Old Harbour police is that they are always doing outreach and so it was easy to partner with them and impact the community.”

Seeing the living conditions of both homes first-hand, she added: “It’s a humbling experience because you will look at this family and for me I see my family as well and I know a lot of persons here can see their families. I can’t tell you a figure (cost) but it’s the thought that counts.”

Though she is grateful for the help Sparkes is appealing for more assistance. Her daughter has a learning disability and needs a bed, said revealed, while the ply boards need to change.

“If mi could a get some help to finish up the little shop and sell in there that would a help me, because mi could a stay here and take better care of him,” she said. “But if not, mi no know how mi ago manage because expense a tek out everything. Mi sell a market mi not even pay fi the load dem. Mi have diabetes and pressure (hypertension).”

The initiative was made possible with the support of Chung Phat Supermarket, Jamaica Bedding, OJ Koolers, Food for the Poor, Unbeatable Wholesale and Variety Store and Cee Cee Delight.

DSP Manderson said initiatives like this highlight the deeper role in the society that the police play.

Noting that the viability of this programme will be determined by the level of corporate support, the senior police officer said: “Policing is multi-dimensional. If I can’t reach out to these individuals there is no way I can look to these individuals to corporate with us. So it’s also a matter of reaching out to them and winning the confidence of the citizens and let them know that we are a force for good.”