Several charitable organisations, members of the public, Habitat for Humanity and a former attorney general yesterday offered to help a Heights of Guanapo family living in squalor.
The organisations and good Samaritans promised to provide food, clothing, electricity and repair the family’s run-down home after their plight was highlighted in yesterday’s T&T Guardian.
The news brought Nicolette Moses to uncontrollable tears.
Her five-year-old daughter Khadijah managed to top her pre-school class in mathematics and reading last term. She uses a kerosene lamp to study in her roofless home which does not have pipe-borne water and other basic furnishings.
Moses deprived herself an education to ensure that her eldest daughter, who has her heart set on becoming a doctor, attains an education.
The Baash’s story headlined—A Bright Light Among the Ruins—attracted an outpouring of support on social media.
“I never expected this overwhelming support from the public. It brought me to tears. There are still good people out there. I am surprised that it have so much caring people in Trinidad. I want to thank all those who spoke to me on the phone and gave a commitment to help. But more importantly I have to give praise to the Guardian for helping me in my darkest hour. I am so, so, so grateful. My hopes have been lifted,” said 24-year-old Moses, a mother of four.
Among those who called Moses was Varma Ramdhan, member of Foundation 141 headed by Stefan Jugmohan and communications officer at Habitat for Humanity Tracy Hutchinson Wallace.
Moses said Khadijah was able to read the newspaper article to her.
“When she started reading it I cried because the story touched my heart even though it was about me. It opened my eyes to the reality we are facing. It’s shocking that people still live the way I do in 2017... a developed country like Trinidad,” Moses said.
Ramdhan said their charitable organisation will pen a letter to the Agriculture Ministry before the end of this week, asking if they could grant Moses a certificate of comfort (CoC) since the agricultural land she has been occupying for the past eight years belongs to the State.
Ramdhan said Moses has applied to the ministry to lease the land, but was awaiting word.
“If we get a CoC we would be able to get electricity for the family. Then and only then we can undertake repairs. Whatever building materials we can get from the hardware that is linked to our group we would spruce up their home. We are also mobilising to supply them with groceries, clothes and household items.”
He said key on their list was to ensure that Khadijah gets into a primary school in September and help repair their home.
“We are also willing to facilitate any funding Khadijah needs with uniform, books and school shoes for enrolment of primary school. In the interim we don’t want her to study with a kerosene lamp so our group has already suggested that we supply her with a few mini solar lights as soon as possible so she can study in comfort and safety.”
Ramdhan said he approached former AG Anand Ramlogan who promised to help the family financially.
“Mr Ramlogan has pledged to help financially and otherwise.”
On Good Friday, Ramdhan said a team from its organisation will visit the destitute family to make an assessment of their needs.
