House, job around the corner for mother of seven

By Emmanuel Joseph

The unemployed St Michael woman and her seven children who had been living in squalor for years are now in improved accommodation.

The other good news is that the 34-year-old mother Jackqulin Cox, who has been without work for the past five years, has received two job offers.

An elated and grateful Cox provided the updates after the family was relocated from their century-old dilapidated house last Saturday by the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, to make way for the Urban Development Commission (UDC) to build a new house on the site.

The plight of Cox and that of her children – ages 14, 13,12,11,10, 5 and 4 –  had been highlighted in a Barbados TODAY article last Thursday.

“We got moved on Saturday and we got moved up to Christ Church. On top of that, Urban called and they are going to demolish the house to get started [on rebuilding],” Cox told Barbados TODAY. 

“I just want to tell Barbados how thankful I am for all the help…how happy my kids are. I am incredibly comfortable. It’s amazing…my kids adore it. I just want to say ‘thank you,’” she gushed.

Cox also reported that while their new living quarters are great, ministry officials are working on relocating the family to another house to make the children’s access to school less of a hassle.

“They are going to move me to [St Michael] so that my kids would be able to make it to school, so that is another thing that is in the works. So hopefully, we will move by next month before school starts or it might be just a little bit after school starts. They are not sure as yet,” the mother disclosed.

On the question of employment, she said something good was about to happen.

“A job is pending…two actually. A lady from [a wholesale business] told me to send in my CV and if anything comes up, I would be considered first…and there is another lady that wants me to be her office assistant. She wants me to work with her to get her business back on track. So, hopefully, more possibilities will roll in,” said Cox, who has customer service certification, Grade 1s in CXC English and Biology and a Grade 3 in Mathematics.

Jackqulin Cox has been moved out of the dilapidated house she and her seven children had called home for years.

Director of the UDC Sonia King confirmed to Barbados TODAY that the state agency will start construction once
Cox is able to move her possessions from the current
house.

“Miss Cox still has possessions in the home and we cannot start. We have to wait until, as you would understand, she has cleared her personal effects, including furniture, appliances, et cetera outside of the home,” she explained.

“So until she is ready and comfortable – not adding more stress to her situation – we would be ready to assist her. We are putting things in place but, again, I can’t give you a timeline for anything until Miss Cox gives us the go-ahead to do the demolition of the structure.”

Asked if the house would be restored to its colonial style, the UDC head said it would be too costly and time-consuming.

“Unfortunately, that is not our intention at this time given the speed with which we would like to assist Miss Cox and her family. Restoration of that nature would take a longer timeline, would be a more costly exercise and would involve many more agencies for such a restoration. I did see the property and I had a similar thought, but sometimes we have to compare the cost and the goodwill that we are trying to execute for the client,” King advised.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb