Craft vendor Berta not slowing down

Winnifred McFarlane Whit-tingham, better known as 'Berta' or 'Big Mama', is hailed as the 'life' of the Harbour StCraft Market in Montego Bay, St James.

The 68-year-old craft vendor is widely respected by her peers and is regularly recognised by visitors because of her bubbling personality.

"Wednesday, October 24 gone was mi birthday and I sat right here the (following) Sunday and mi see a man drive up in a bus. I stand up and mi see the driver come out with two other people who shake my hand and go in the shop. I was able to make four month rent money that day," a grateful Whittingham explained to WESTERN STAR.

This is one testament to her starlike status, which she has crafted over the past 40 years in the trade.

"Craft vending is what send mi eight kids to school, and even though them tell mi say mi can rest now, mi can't sit down yet," said Whittingham. "I used to work for somebody and one day I come in little late and the lady start quarrel. The evening I done work, I don't go back. Mi go buy six baskets a goods and start go hustle until mi reach yah so. Mi get up and go pon mi own, mi try something for myself. Mi used to run from police with mi pickney them pon mi side."

Though business has had its ups and downs throughout the years, she nonetheless continues to work hard.

She is still hopeful that craft vending will go back to the days when there was an influx of tourists and the trade was booming.

"As a craft vendor, I would like to see more business. Some people will be here for months and nuh make a dollar and it's hard. They have children to go to school and bills to pay," Whittingham said. "Sometimes we cry, but at times we have to stop cry and give God praises, because when you look inna the world, worse than we deh. I am not coming from here."

Whittingham said she even farms and burns coal.

"I don't know what I don't do to make a dollar for mi pickney them. Mi a tell Jamaica say unno no have to go out and take up the gun. If unno put unno hand to anything, unno will survive. I sit down and knit up to 100 tams for two weeks straight, night and day, to survive. Stop the foolishness and come to reality," she said.