ANN was able to bring the conditions under which a couple, who were living in an abandoned building in the Canash/Ratho Mill area, was struggling to survive, to the attention of several persons last Thursday evening.
The couple, dubbed Mr & Mrs Cupid to safeguard their privacy, was forced to take up residence in the window-less, utility-less and generally unsafe building as their very last resort in their hunt for shelter. Mr Cupid is nursing internal injuries to his body brought on by what appears to be systematic poisoning disguised as spiritual healing from an uncertified practitioner.
Efforts to appeal to the social services and other local agencies failed miserably to agitate the necessary support. Having recently been discharged from the Milton Cato Memorial, the health hazards inherent to their living conditions was another motivating factor behind ANN’s intercession.
Area MP Camillo Gonsalves was one of the persons contacted. His house is situated not too far from the couple’s sanctuary and as such enabled the ANN team to reach MP Gonsalves at home. He, understandably, was unaware of the couple’s plight.
At his intervention, the Chief Medical Officer was engaged and an ambulance was sent to remove the Cupids from the abandoned property, overnight.
ANN has confirmed that Mr Cupid would be hospitalized “for a couple of days” while the authorities explore housing options. Mrs Cupid though was reportedly seen walking the streets with their belongings in plastic bags, sometime on Friday.
MP Gonsalves, who is also SVG’s Finance Minister, pledged to have the situation rectified by Monday latest.
While MP Gonsalves’ intervention was timely and in no small measure has helped Mr. Cupid, they are still without a home.
To this end LOVNSVG, a local non-profit organisation dedicated to the eradication of all forms of violence against humanity, has mobilized support to finance the couples’ housing, in part. Foundation President Nailah John told us “LOVNSVG is calling on all members of the local and wider Vincentian community in assisting this couple. Help them alleviate their homelessness.
It is past time that we stop talking and start doing. If we, especially those of us in the Diaspora, come together we are a powerful force. Put our money where our mouths are. LOVNSVG can’t do it without other members of our community.”
Meanwhile, ANN’s Asberth Williams remarked, “It shouldn’t come to this, to putting out a story to generate support for our most vulnerable people..Where are we going as a country when our institutions are failing to do what they should?”
Persons wishing to help are encouraged to contact Gary James at 1 784 434 2653.