Clarendon grandma struggles to raise kids

Senior citizen Clover Campbell, of Carty Hill in Clarendon, is overwhelmed trying to care for the six grandchildren left in her care after her two daughters died over a three-year span.

One of her daughters, Venecia Thompson, died three years ago after suddenly falling ill, leaving a three-month-old baby. She was dealt another blow last year when another of her daughters, Ann-Marie Thompson Campbell, died from COVID-19, leaving behind five children.

The children's fathers are not able to support them financially as they have to rely on odd jobs for income. This means that the burden of taking care of the children has fallen to the 67-year-old Campbell.

"Sometimes a can't even find $500," said Campbell, who is a hypertensive and a diabetic.

She said that the children - ages three, six-year-old twins, 13, and 17 - have not been to school in more than a year, as they are badly in need of clothes and other items. Her other grandchild, 20, numbers among the 10 persons in the dwelling.

"Sometimes they don't have nothing, nothing at all. The father, sometimes him get two days work, sometimes him nuh have nutten," she informed.

Campbell lives in a two-room board structure, which was built some years ago by former member of parliament for the area, Richard Azan.

Anita Thompson, the children's aunt, broke down in tears as she pleaded for assistance on their behalf.

"They not going to school nor nothing," Thompson said. "They don't have any shoes, they don't have any uniform, they don't have anyting to go to school. I'm talking on the behalf of her kids to get some help for dem cause the father don't have it, and it hard," the tearful aunt said.

The family's plight has caught the attention of Karen Carty, the People's National Party's caretaker for the Frankfield division. Carty said that she has known the family since 2004, and said that she reached out to several persons, including gospel singer Jodian Pantry, seeking help on their behalf.

Pantry, having visited the family, said that their needs are real and their circumstances dire.

"This family is indeed struggling and it is not looking so pretty living in a two-bedroom structure - very small - with about 10 people living in it. They are definitely in need of the assistance," she said.

Through her Jodian Pantry Foundation, Pantry said that she has reached out to the Kiwanis Club of Eastern St Andrew and US-based dancehall artiste, Agent Di Realest, to secure school supplies and food for the family. She said that more help is needed.

"I want you guys, whoever you are out there, to join in. You can get in contact with the Jodian Pantry Foundation or Karen Carty. Let us continue to spread more love to the people of the country," Pantry said.