A happy and bright Christmas seems to be in the making for Verne Bahadur and his six children who live in abject poverty at Morne Diablo, Penal. After reading about their plight in yesterday's T&T Guardian, good samaritans have donated, or have promised to donate, foodstuff and furniture to the family.
Among those who promised to lend assistance was Minister of the People and Social Development Glenn Ramadharsingh.
"We will be calling the family to find out the situation but we are going to give them assistance," said an official from Ramadharsingh's office. When contacted yesterday, an upbeat-sounding Bahadur said: "We feel good that people are helping us. The children are excited. You know how children are. "Since morning people calling and some people drop foodstuff. We get plenty foodstuff." He said he would be doing the cooking for Christmas. "I was forced to cook," said Bahadur. Bahadur, who supports his family on a monthly disability grant, said his wife walked out on them more than a year ago.
His children are Dave, 16, Davenand, 14, Sharlene 13, Seema, 11, Sharma, seven and Amit, three.
The only furniture in their dilapidated house is a hammock, three crudely made benches and two old beds. The home has no water or electricity. While he was appreciative of all the help so far, Bahadur said his wish was that his children could have a comfortable place to call home. He said people have donated gravel, 70 packs of cement and 90 length of steel to get him started on a house. He said a businessman visited the family yesterday and promised to help build a "32 by 25 flat."
We are on the ball. Meanwhile, chairman of the National Commission for Self Help Commission, Surujdeo Mangaroo, said the commission would supplymaterial and also was working on reuniting the family. Mangaroo, who visited the family, said: "We are supplying galvanise sheets, rafters, nails and two loads of half-and-half, all within our $10,000 grant limit." He said the commission also arranged with General Earth Movers to pave the muddy track which led to the house to facilitate easy access by the family.
"Work should commence by tomorrow," he said. In addition, Mangaroo said he had spoken to the children's mother in an attempt to reunite the family. "You know these six children need their mother, so we are helping beyond self-help. We are on the ball," he said.