Mom of four struggling to repay loans

Cradling her five-month-old infant on her lap, Christina Fung wept openly when she visited THE STAR offices yesterday.

Life for the 33-year-old mother of four was never smooth but, up until last year, she was able to fend for herself and family. These days, she said that she has only encountered sleepless nights as the thought of repaying loans has been keeping her wide awake.

She said she is seeking the public's assistance in repaying her debts, which amount to approximately $500,000. She said she had borrowed the monies to furnish her small business that she started four years ago, but she ran out of goods. She showed a notebook with a list of more than a dozen companies or persons who she said are breathing down her neck for their outstanding loans.

"I have a very nice landlord, so she gave me permission to sell juice and snacks and other little things on the verandah on a stall. Mi did a pay them [the loans] back but them back up on mi. Mi owe NCB, Torpedo, LASCO Financial Services, daily loan and other people. In total is about $500,000. A couple months ago, one of who I owe come to my house to take away my fridge and my stall, and dem say mi would have to give them $20,000. But mi could only find $10,000. But that is about three months now so dem on mi case again," she said.

The Portmore, St Catherine woman stressed that she did not squander the loans but just had greater responsibilities after her babyfather lost his job.

"I had to use some of the money take care of them [the children] and put the rest in the business. Mi did a pay back the loans little little and then everything just crash. Mi a wonder if a because mi never put all of the money in the business. Mi gone back a square one," she said. Fung said she tried seeking a job but, without any certification or marketable skills, she is unable to gain a stable or meaningful one.

"Mi fren a encourage mi to get a work but the daycare charging me $5,000 for the week and mi next little son is there, suh that is an extra money. Mi don't have a skill or a subject. Mi nuh mind look the work but mi know dat a guh only pay daycare," Fung said.

Growing up, Fung said she aspired to be a successful entrepreneur, but her present condition is preventing her from living her dreams.

"When mi little, mi and mi father use to walk up and down and sell. So the little business did come een like mi passion. Mi just a beg some help. When mi look pon mi baby dem, mi can see say dem a depend on mi and mi just a beg God to save mi. Mi did inna mi church and was a Christian and a behave myself and a focus on mi pickney dem. Mi just lose mi way really bad and mi never have any mother growing up. Suh mi just wah make it right for my children," Fung said.

Persons wishing to assist Christina Fung may contact her at 876 779 0444.