“I [am] comfortable,” 87–year–old Edmunda Gittens declared to Barbados TODAY this evening as she sat in the comfort of her new Maxwell, Christ Church living room, snacking on Eclipse biscuits and watching television.
The elderly woman’s life has made a 180 degree turn since Monday when she was served with eviction papers by court marshals and forced to look on helplessly as the place she had called home, from the time she was five, was torn down.
Though not eager to revisit the whole embarrassing episode that resulted in her “face being all over the newspaper crying”, Gittens was in high spirits this afternoon — though she opted for no photographs — as she received a Barbados TODAY team into her new surroundings.
It was a far cry from the ugly picture that was painted as she sat sobbingly three days ago as her personal belongings were removed from her former Kendal Hill, Christ Church address, along with every physical memory she had created with her seven children.
“I cry and everything and already. I ain’t crying no more. I’m comfortable where I is,” she said, though it was clear from the number of plastic bags, suitcases and containers stacked with personal belongings, that she still was not completely settled and still needed to adapt to her new and quieter surroundings, after living for years at a busy intersection.
“The only thing that I don’t like is that it [the new home] is off the road, but otherwise it don’t worry me because my children made me comfortable and brought the TV,” she said.
The elderly woman was also full of praise her constituency representative, Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth, Stephen Lashley, who was already at the Maxwell residence when the Barbados TODAY team arrived this afternoon after 5 p.m., checking in on Gittens to see how she and her mentally challenged son were adjusting.
Lashley later disclosed that officials of the National Housing Corporation and the Urban and Rural Development Commissions were working behind the scene to construct a permanent four-bedroom home for Gittens in Brighton, St George.
“The priority has been handled in that the housing has been sorted out . . . We now have to wait on those agencies to see what can be done and how soon it can be done,” he added.
katrinaking@barbadostoday.bb
Thanks to the Almighty and all those who helped this lady to get back to some semblance of normalcy.
I cried when I saw her picture and story in the media, that hurt me to the core. Some of us are going to pay dearly for the bad way we treat our senior citizens.
Ms. Gittens, be not dismayed whate’re betide, God will take care of you!
Thanks to the Almighty and all those who helped this lady to get back to some semblance of normalcy.
I cried when I saw her picture and story in the media, that hurt me to the core. Some of us are going to pay dearly for the bad way we treat our senior citizens.
Ms. Gittens, be not dismayed whate’re betide, God will take care of you!
To god be the glory I’m very happy for you Miss Gittens
To god be the glory I’m very happy for you Miss Gittens
Glad you got someplace. There is nothing NOT TO LIKE about it!! The same children who did not know where YOU, not THEM, were going to live brought you TV. Nice!!
Glad you got someplace. There is nothing NOT TO LIKE about it!! The same children who did not know where YOU, not THEM, were going to live brought you TV. Nice!!
While I am grateful that provisions have been made to accommodate Ms Gittens it boggles me as why the government would give her a 4 bedroom home. Wasn’t it just she and 1 son?
Is the government making provision for the other children who didn’t know where Ms Gittens was going to go? Why not just give her a 2 bedroom house?
Just me thinking out loud.
While I am grateful that provisions have been made to accommodate Ms Gittens it boggles me as why the government would give her a 4 bedroom home. Wasn’t it just she and 1 son?
Is the government making provision for the other children who didn’t know where Ms Gittens was going to go? Why not just give her a 2 bedroom house?
Just me thinking out loud.
I love a good ending.
I love a good ending.
I was wondering the same thing. Why a 4 bedroom house?
I was wondering the same thing. Why a 4 bedroom house?
I wonder why she is to get a four bedroom house for only she and a son. Looks like the people of Barbados must now provide a home for her other Children and Grans.
If all this Lady Children pool together their resources they could provide her with a home. Don’be fooled Barbados.A Lot of politics is playing out here.
I wonder why she is to get a four bedroom house for only she and a son. Looks like the people of Barbados must now provide a home for her other Children and Grans.
If all this Lady Children pool together their resources they could provide her with a home. Don’be fooled Barbados.A Lot of politics is playing out here.