"That's a failed policy!" That was Dr L Trevor Grant's response to Port-of-Spain Mayor Louis Lee Sing's decision to rid the streets of homeless people by rounding them up and taking them to St Ann's for evaluation. Grant penned The Nowayrians: Homelessness in Trinidad and Tobago which examined their plight.
He identified crushing poverty as the push factor which propels the homeless on to the streets, sending them to literally beg their bread. Interviewed recently, Grant said: "The PNM has created that destitute situation that so many men and women are victims of chronic poverty. It is a direct result of poor planning because the other parties did not stay long enough (in office). Homelessness is about poverty. "They become lazy when they end up on the streets in San Juan and Curepe and Tunapuna or wherever. They are without a home, job, clothing and facilities to cook and bathe," added Grant.
Long-term plan needed
Grant joined a chorus of voices who appealed for a long-term solution to the social problem- which is also a worldwide phenomenon. He said: "Most people are saying his approach is wrong. Homelessness is an old problem. If we have to solve it once and for all, we should be looking at long-term and not short-term measures."
He described the scenario of hoarding them off in padlocked vehicles, maltreating them by hosing them down and carting them off to court like common criminals as "extremely inhumane."
Grant's proposal
• Remove them from the streets and give them secure housing (substitute facilities for homes).
• Access them in terms of medically ill, mentally ill, hard drug users, HIV/Aids.
• Interview them and conduct a full accessment (categorise them based on their condition); Provide support staff for this type of service.
He said it is "damning" to put citizens to live in a carpark like Riverside Plaza, Port-of-Spain.
• Strive toward rehabilitation (at least six months to a year). He felt a holistic approach is needed involving researchers, medical professionals and psychologists.
Grant's findings
Referring to his 2008 study, Grant said about 86 per cent men and 14 per cent women were among the homeless. He also found 59 per cent use alcohol-including their favourite beverage-Bay Rum. "Bay Rum damages the liver," he said. 58 per cent have medical problems-varying from Parkinson's Disease, senility, fractured hands, broken legs, diabetes, eye problems and asthma.
T&T homeless are happy
"The homeless are happy in Trinidad."Visiting Belgian journalism student Jolien Deelman expressed that sentiment after observing the homeless in the Croisee. She is writing a paper on Rastafarianism."In Europe our homeless folk are less happy. Here, they are always laughing and talking on the streets. They talk to themselves. People pass by and call them.They wave. I was in Port-of-Spain and I saw some who were watching the world go by. It's so different."
Compared to T&T's tropical marine climate, she said: "In Belgium it's so cold. They have to go inside. They would freeze to death on the streets. They just beg and sit there. Not much activity."Among the factors she cited which propelled the socially displaced toward the streets were alcholism and the loss of jobs due to the global meltdown. Immigrants from Northern Africa, Turkey, Eastern Europe Romania (Gypsy), Poland and Morroco, too, fall through the cracks.
"They don't get integrated. They come seeking a better life but it doesn't work out. They have to beg on the streets. They beg mainly for money and food." Turning to Muslim businessman Jaleel Ali, she said: "I know the Muslims there give them charity (zakaat)."