BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – BOTH residents and visitors to St. Kitts are familiar with Jeff, and on one occasion or more many of them have heard him utter the words, “Hail d’ man...please fuh a dollar”, because – as he would always explain – he is in need of money to purchase food.
But whether one feels pity, empathy, disgust, fear or sadness when approached by him, thoughts of the possible cause of his condition, whether or not he has or wants help and the possibility of rehabilitation, flood the mind.
From tourist to resident, it really does not matter; Jeff seems to be a constant on the streets of Basseterre begging each person he meets to supply him with a dollar with which to he says he would procure something to satisfy his hunger.
If questioned about his situation though, Jeff would indicate – as he did to this media house – that his life began to crumble after he lost his full-time job more than 12 years ago.
“I used to work for ZIZ from 1980 (for in excess of 15 years) when I was dismissed…After I lost my job I started having problems…”
The 55-year-old explained that he has 10 subject passes in the General Certificate Examination (GCE) which include Mathematics, English, Spanish, Biology, Physics and Chemistry. Jeff also said that he was employed as an engineer during his stint at ZIZ.
Jeff explained that having lost his job at that media house, he resorted to teaching Mathematics and Biology, but even then he still had some difficulties.
He claims that he lives at McKnight in a house belonging to one of his relatives. But when asked if he has considered getting help, Jeff said he gets help but he is totally against the idea of being checked into a home or any facility at which he could receive specialised attention.
“I go up the hospital and they give me my medication and I take them all the time. I do not want to go to the poor house. Lord no! That is a bad help for me. That will send me crazy.
“I never went in a home. That is bad for me. That will tie me down and make me feel sick. That is like I am giving up. So I got to try.”
Jeff claimed to be quite handy and he is seriously considering refrigerator repair as an occupation and has set goals to that end.
Whether it escapes us or not, the fact remains that Jeff – despite his condition or the circumstances that have affected his life – is still very much a human being who sees, feels, understands and has goals.
It leaves one to wonder that after gaining so many subjects at the London GCE and employed for several years at a reputable institution, as well as coming out of a highly-respectable home in Newtown, what had really caused Jeff to become the man he now is?
