Town crier enjoys role in COVID fight

If you are at home and happen to hear "Wash your hands properly ... ensure you are at least six feet apart," being blasted from a speaker throughout your community, chances are the voice is that of town crier Derrick Coombs.

He spends hours a day driving around in a van, telling people to take precautions to fight against the spread of COVID-19.

Coombs told THE STAR that knowing the role he plays in Jamaica, especially at a time like this, is overly gratifying.

"It makes me feel pretty good. My duty is to encourage people to love their neighbours, and themselves. I feel happy doing this. Being that I'm encouraging people to take care of themselves with the coronavirus, it means a lot. It's a fulfilment for me," he said with pride.

The Vineyard Town resident has been doing this job since early 2000.

"All those years, I have always felt happy about what I'm doing," he said. "Of course, I am paid for it, but I am satisfied with what I'm doing. I feel happy doing it, really. Knowing that I am spreading the good news, to try and reduce the spread of the coronavirus, it is great."

Larger audiences

Even on his birthday, today, he is scheduled to be out and about.

"I have no problem with that. I don't mind. I have a lot of areas ... Tivoli Gardens, Rollington Town, Denham Town, Bull Bay. I'll be out from about 7:30 a.m. straight to about 4 p.m.," he said.

Apart from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, he is also under the employ of many churches across Jamaica, and businesses seeking to reach larger audiences with their products.

For the most part, he has been revered by the thousands of people with whom he has crossed paths.

"People respect what I do, enuh, because my van is like a good-news van. I do town crying for the Ministry of Health, NHF [National Health Fund], churches, and gospel musicians. I go through so many communities. That's why I am honoured to do this job on behalf of the Government and the people of Jamaica."

It may be the love of his life now, but this was never his dream. As a youngster, Coombs had his eyes set on accounting.

"I am not ashamed of what I do. I love what I do, and what is funny is that I didn't dream of myself doing this. I dreamed of myself doing my O levels and A levels, going to college, and getting a job somewhere in an office and working as an accounting clerk or something like that. But the Lord had it differently. I just give thanks for the opportunity," he shared.