Shabba is more than just a vendor - He is Lacovia’s good Samaritan

Rudolph Montaque has been selling fruits in Lacovia, St Elizabeth, for two decades. However, Shabba, as he is affectionately called, is much more than a fruits man. He describes himself as a " good Samaritan".

"People who have dem pickney a go over the school (Lacovia High) and live all over the place use me to collect and deliver from lunch money to bags, phone and just about anything," he said.

"Dem know sey Shabba deh yah so as a good Samaritan so dem send down anything dem have to deliver for them."

Asked if he has ever had any bad experience providing this kind of voluntary service, Shabba said no.

"I recall two persons leaving money with me for their family members, and I got it mix-up. The lady who was to get $3,000 got $4,000, and she returned it," Shabba said.

"More time some a dem call Shabba and seh give me pickney some lunch money til weekend mi pay you back, mi give them the same way," he said, while adding "sometimes some of dem don't even come back come pay me, but a nothing, a just blessings mi sey. A dat mi deh yah fah."

Shabba said he caters for everyone and many times help to provide meals to many.

"If somebody comes to me and sey dem a guh a Black River, and nuh have nuh fare, mi give them. Somebody come and sey dem hungry, mi give dem money fi go buy food, and a just so mi do it, cater for the rich and poor. Nuff times man come yah and sey dem a go home and dem children don't have nothing to eat, and mi give them a thing fi go buy food fi dem pickney same way," he added.

Shabba said that some of the students he assisted when they attended Lacovia High, including some who are now living overseas, would often return and take something for him.

"They would come back and say, 'bwoy Shabba, mi remember the good things you do fi mi'."

Apart from getting satisfaction from being his brother's keeper, Shabba enjoys his job as a fruit vendor.

"Anywhere people a come from and want fruits, dem know sey a Shabba dem a guh check," he said.

"You could call my shop cheap, sweet and clean," he said of his stall which is stocked with pineapple, mango, melon, banana, cantaloupe, sugar cane and star fruits.