It was back to reality for Alan Maloney and his seven-year-old son, Daniel, yesterday as they left their lavish room at the Kapok Hotel, Port-of-Spain, to return to the burnt out ruins of their Ste Madeleine, home. Maloney, 54, and his son, a Standard Two pupil at Ste Madeleine Government?Primary?School, shot into the limelight after a T&T Guardian story highlighted their story.
The father and son were living out of a tent in the ruins of their Manahambre Road, home which had been destroyed by fire on November 30. Yesterday, Maloney and Daniel returned to their home after spending Christmas week in luxury at the Port-of-Spain hotel, courtesy a Port-of-Spain businessman and an anonymous good Samaritan. Maloney said both he and Daniel enjoyed their stay at the hotel.
"They treated us very good," he said. However, with his eyes downcast, the father of one said: "When we came back, it was back to reality." Maloney, who spent most of his day settling back into his home, said he was overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity from citizens which made him proud to be a Trinidadian.
"I did not expect this at all. It feel good, very good as a Trinidadian. You never know how kind-hearted some people are. "This is the first time I ever been in something like this," Maloney said. Maloney regretted having to return to his tent, admitting it was difficult for him to turn down offers of places to stay.
"I really got a lot of calls from persons in Cascade, Laventille and Diego Martin to stay but it so far out of the way for him to go to school," he said. Daniel, who eagerly showed off the new toys he received from good Samaritans, said: "This was the best Christmas ever."
Fay-Ann: A daunting task to get an apartment for Maloney
Among the good Samaritans offering to help Maloney is?soca superstar Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez who promised to rent an apartment for Maloney until his home is repaired. Yesterday, Lyons-Alvarez admitted that it has been a daunting task to find an apartment for Maloney and his son.
"One of the problems we have been having is that no one is willing to rent their place for a month. "A lot of people are not seeing the benefit of short-term renting. They want to rent for a year. "That has been the problem. I have my people looking at apartments close to where he (Maloney) lives. "In fact they were supposed to check out a semi-furnished apartment today (yesterday.)
"We are hoping it works out," Lyons-Alvarez said. She said she will pay for the apartment while Maloney gets his home repaired. Lyons -Alvarez said she was touched by Maloney's story because they were living out of a tent. "I have a play tent for my daughter to play in and that does not offer security and comfort. When I saw that I said it is a serious situation,"?she said.
Maloney said on?Friday he visited the Ministry of the People to access a $10,000 grant to purchase household appliances. He said he had to get certain documents, including the fire report, to take back to the ministry before he could get the grant. He said the Self-Help Commission was giving him a grant to purchase materials for his home which he is yet to receive.
Maloney said he also has everything for his son to return to school in January. "A guy came in the Kapok Hotel and he brought some gifts for us and vouchers valued $200 for books and things for my son. "He was very helpful. The amount of people out there are so kind-hearted, I am so thankful. "He have his uniform and he is all set for school," Maloney added.
