By Michel Outridge

Bibi Bashir and her sibling, Abdul Bashir are both unable to work but both depend on other financial sources of support to maintain their nutritional and needs and to pay bills.

Bibi Bashir never benefitted from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) pension but she had been depending on the public assistance benefit, but that was ceased a few months ago due to some glitches. She said that she is being told to wait on a telephone call before visiting the local office.

Bibi Bashir is a mother of two grown children, who have their own families to take care of. She noted that she fell some years ago and is unable to have the full use of her right hand.
As such, she is unable to work for a living and also has varicose veins in her feet which makes it painful to walk. Despite these challenges, she is still hoping life gets better.

As for Abdul Bashir, he is diabetic, who is taking it easy although his disability benefit was cut since 2016.

The siblings, had their dog, ‘Princess’ nearby keeping a watchful eye on the team during our visit.

Meanwhile, down the street, the team met Kowsilla Mangra, who has a shop and was selling from the inside due to COVID-19, so she was observing social distancing.

This woman, an elder as well, said she has been at the location for the past 25 years, due to marriage and it is her mother-in-law’s place.

After she passed away they took over the small shop and began residing there, a few years ago, they have a house in the village, as well. She had locked the gate and was sitting on a bench and only got up to sell. Mangra was handing items over the fence and also relaxing after completing household chores.

The team also encountered Seecharran Rabindranauth, a resident of the Belle Vue New Scheme.

He was taking in some afternoon breeze and hoping to meet up with the men of the village in the ‘ol’ liming spot, an abandoned estate truck which used to transport sugar workers.

The men made it into their ‘chill spot’ and have a hammock to relax and the wooden benches in the tray of the truck is used to sit.

He described life in the village as challenging since he cannot work as a painter due to the curfew.

Rabindranauth had just finished cutting his neighbour’s hair since there wasn’t much to do he was making use of the time.

The father of three related that his wife left with the children 10 years ago and ever since he resides alone.

“Coping after a break up is not easy but life goes on and I am trying to be helpful to others in the community,” he said.