Suffering senior hopes for better days

For the past seven years, Harvey Brown, who lives in a rundown shack in New Town, Four Paths, Clarendon, has been depending on the goodness of others to survive.

An ardent Christian, his faith remains strong although life has been rough for him. He told THE WEEKEND STAR, "It rough, if me nain love Jesus, mi dead aready."

At the time of the visit, he informed that he hadn't yet pinpointed where his next meal was coming from. Most days, a dedicated neighbour, Albert Flash, assists him with tea, helping him to navigate his way with his wheelchair, as he is an amputee, and gets him on the taxi where he goes into the town to beg. Brown said that, on a good day, he gets up to $3,000.

Life was not always like this for Brown as he said he used to drive taxis and trucks. But he wanted to try working on cars.

"So mi leave dem deh work and tek a rest off and go start work wid one man, through mi waan learn di trade. Dat time, mi inna mi 60s mi coulda still drive, but mi did waan learn di trade, fi body works and fix tings. So mi tek a ease up offa di driving," he said.

All was working well with his new boss for four years until, one day, he decided to "go bush go look breadfruit" as he wanted to cook lunch. He said that he stepped on a nail and his boss instructed him to immediately put some kerosene oil on the wound and to wrap banana leaf around it. But Brown said the foot did not heal.

"It just swell up and tun 'jackfruit' foot. So mi go doctor and him sey di foot slow poison. Even though mi nuh have nuh sugar and not a diabetic, mi still haffi cut it off. Him sey it can give me heart attack, suh him cut it below weh him sey di poison deh," Brown shared.

While Brown would not mind receiving food and clothing, his biggest worry is "his livity", referring to his dilapidated home which seems to be falling apart. Flash said that he is doing what he can to assist Brown.

"Sometime mi carry him inna di wheelchair, everyting mi haffi do to him. Clean him up same way, bathe him, every ting mi do to him," he shared. Flash said his wish for Brown is that he gets a proper shelter.

Another neighbour, Rachel Miller, who runs errands for Brown, said that some residents try to ensure that he at least gets something to eat. But, like Flash, she wants to see him in a better house.

Persons wishing to assist Harvey Brown, may contact Rachel Miller at 876-404-4178.