Couple with newborn battling homelessness after roof collapse

“Sometimes mi haffi show dem a picture a mi baby to get help,” lamented Ewan McPherson, as he stood near his three-month-old baby after collecting care packages in Black River, St Elizabeth.

His words reflect the ongoing struggle faced by many residents nearly a month after Category 5 Hurricane Melissa devastated the parish, leaving countless families homeless, unemployed, and desperate for basic necessities.

McPherson and his partner, Anecia McCrae, were among those collecting relief supplies from the Chinese community at a plaza in Black River last Thursday.

McCrae said the hurricane left their home and belongings in ruins.

“My roof gone, my bed damaged, and some likkle things fi mi babyfada. Him car damaged – the windscreen and the top of the car – and the baby clothes. We have no zinc on the top, so we need some help,” she said.

McPherson, while adding that most of their furniture were destroyed, said, “The roof mash up, so we need to put on back some zinc. But we need a tarpaulin because the baby is there. It still a leak a certain places, so me would like a tarpaulin.”

FRIGHTENING ESCAPE

Asked how they managed with the baby during the hurricane, McPherson recounted a frightening escape.

“When the house top a lift, mi have a wah thick jacket, ‘cause through mi ride bike. Mi wrap him up inna it and come out. Mi affi crouch till mi reach weh mi a go and get rescue,” McPherson recalled.

“Me feel like mi did a go give up,” McCrae admitted.

Her partner emphasised that he had to remain strong for the family.

“Mi affi get brave, straight up; braver than how me did brave before, and monitor the two a dem,” he said.

McPherson, who had been working at a farm store in Black River, said the hurricane destroyed the business, leaving him without income.

“It is really bad. No work, no money, you know how dat guh, and wi affi pay the bills same way, and that is the difficulty,” he said.

While his employer has offered him a position at another branch in Santa Cruz, he said the pay would just be enough to cover transportation costs daily, as the fares have increased.

McCrae, a former cashier, said receiving relief supplies has helped, but obtaining food and aid has become inconsistent.

“Three weeks ago, supplies were more regular,” McPherson said.

The couple said they would greatly appreciate assistance to rebuild their home and restart their small chicken business.

Meanwhile, McPherson has been helping neighbours repair roofs to earn some income.

Nearby, Enice Davis held her relief package in the shade. She lives with her brother in Hodges Land and said her roof also collapsed.

“Mi don’t see the money yet fi fix it, but mi thank God mi move. If me did tan in deh, mi wouda dead,” she said.

Davis described how a wash pan helped her to escape.

“A wah bath pan save mi. A it mi use and put over mi head and come out,” she recalled.

HELPED BY NEIGHBOURS

Since the hurricane, she has survived with the help of neighbours and occasional work.

“Some people will call mi and gi mi a night dinner, and since the hurricane, a Wednesday gone mi get a day’s work and buy little food. Everything fi me wet up. All mi clothes dem, a bleach mi affi bleach dem. If you did see how dutty water do dem. Oh God!” she said, noting that all her sheets were destroyed.

Although she has received some relief packages, she still lacks basic cooking supplies.

“Mi would be grateful if someone would assist me with some pots and a tarpaulin,” she added.

In New Holland, Anthony ‘Trouses’ Jones, 54, who lost his shop and part of his house, was seen boiling a pot of oats porridge beside the rubble. Scattered around him were twisted zinc sheets and empty plastic bottles.

Jones said he has not yet received assistance, but plans to salvage materials to rebuild the building, which he had already started working on.

“Mi brother gimme $2,000 today. A it mi use buy some nails,” he said.

The father of two, who lived at the premises with his partner and teenage son, said they had all left for a family home before the hurricane, but he recalled the shock of returning home after the storm.

“Mi mind gone. Mi ongle could a look. It damage everything – down to di toilet. Nothing nuh left,” he said.

Jones, in the meantime, said he would appreciate some assistance with building supplies.

“Anything weh we get, wi appreciate it,” he said.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com