Min. Broomes pays Charlestown home surprise visit
Minister Broomes having a word with the eldest of Reona’s three children
Minister Broomes having a word with the eldest of Reona’s three children

By Gabriella Chapman

– spends some time with late Reona Payne’s children

MINISTER within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, on Wednesday paid a surprise visit to the Charlestown home where the children of the late travel agent, Reona Payne reside with their father.

Payne, a mother of three, was in late March this year gunned down in the streets by her reputed husband, ex-GDF Officer, Orwain Sandy.

According to Minister Broomes, seeing that it is the children in these violent relationships who suffer the most, she thought it fit to pay Reona’s children a visit so she could find out how they’re coping and comfort their hearts with a few words of encouragement.

On arrival at the house, Minister Broomes first sat with the children, a girl aged 14, a boy aged 13, and a six-year-old girl to get them to loosen up a bit.

She told the 14-year-old that she has a great responsibility ahead of her, as it is she who has to set the example for her younger siblings, especially her baby sister, to follow.
Admitting that it is a tall order to ask of a child, Minister Broomes told the teen that while the going will be tough and challenging, she must not let the situation get her down.
She urged her to love and believe in herself, to take her education seriously, and set goals and work towards achieving them, so as to be a positive influence on her two siblings.
That did the trick, as the shy 14-year-old opened up to Minister Broomes and admitted that she has not been coping too well, and that her grief has affected her performance.

FILL THE VOID

Minister Broomes with the grieving family

On hearing this, Minister Broomes gave the child her telephone number so she could call her whenever she felt down, or in need of some assistance. She also promised the children she will do whatever she can to fill that void left by the loss of their mother, and urged their father to continue being strong for their sakes.

Their father, Richard Alexander Bevaney, who is “sickly”, explained to the minister that the children have been in his custody since he and Payne separated, but that both their mom and stepdad had still been actively involved in their lives.

Sandy, Bevaney said, would most times pick the children up from his home, drop them off to school and bring them back in the afternoons.

As to how he’s coping with the situation, since the loss of his children’s mother, Bevaney said:
“Words can’t really describe how we feel as a family. The children started acting strange; I had to cope with a lot of trying times with the children.
“One ran away from school; another was fighting in school, doing all sorts of weird stuff during this period.

“But the most challenging thing is having to bear the burden all by myself; we aren’t a group that believe in asking everyone for help, but we believe that God will provide, and he has been doing a wonderful job. And we make the best of what God provides for us.”

He said that since “the church” made an intervention in their lives, they have been guiding and covering them, and getting them all back on track. And he is trusting God that they move forward and continue to do the right thing and focus on their education at this point in time.

As a word of advice to abusive men, Richard said, “Women have a tendency to lash out sometimes; they have different ways in expressing themselves, but a man needs to know and understand these expressions and not resort to violence.”

Come Monday, the baby will be attending North Georgetown Primary, and the two older kids Richard Ishmael Secondary, so they all can be in close proximity to their home and to each other.

Minister Broomes took with her some back-to-school items for the kids, so they can look forward to the new school term as other children do.

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