Under a dim street light at Grass Trace, Flanagin, brothers Mark Halbal, 14, and Aaron, 11, study at nights.
It’s not an ideal place for the boys to beat their books, but for their poverty-stricken parents, Winston and Harriet Halbal, better cannot be done.
Hard-pressed for cash and unable to land permanent jobs, the Halbals have been facing an uphill battle to survive in the far-flung community in which they live.
They are known as the poorest family in Flanagin, as they manage without electricity and pipe-borne water, and with only limited food, in an old one-bedroom wooden hovel whose furnishings consist of two pieces of dingy sponge, a makeshift fireside stove, and a faded kitchen cabinet.
Of the couple’s eight children, only Mark and Aaron live with them. The other six live on their own.
Eight years ago, Winston, a farmer, was the sole provider for the family.
“I worked for a reasonable salary and took care of my family’s needs. Life was good back then,” said Winston, showing the callouses on the inside of his palms.
But Winston’s life came crashing down when he was involved in a vehicular accident eight years ago. The accident left Winston, 48, medically unfit after he suffered multiple injuries.
With mounting bills and an empty cupboard, Winston said Harriet, 49, became the main breadwinner doing household chores in the district for people.
The backbreaking work earns her between $100 and $150 a job.
On a good week, Harriet would take home $300, which is inadequate to feed the family and send Mark to Asja Boys’ College. Every week, the Halbals have to cough up $135 to get Mark to and from his Charlieville school.
Aaron, a Standard Four pupil of Flanagin RC, walks to school.`
Winston pointed to several missing floorboards in his verandah, where he and his wife sleep.
Three years ago, Winston said, the boys’ bedroom caved in, while the kitchen partially collapsed.
“We gave the boys our bedroom and we moved into the gallery to sleep, which is open to the elements. Whenever it rains we would still get wet,” Winston explained.
Expecting the worst in 2016
As the country faces a recession, Harriet said the family expects the worst in 2016.
“When things get bad I would go in the back of the yard and dig for yam. This is what we does eat almost every day. It’s yam and yam. Christmas coming and I don’t have nothing to offer my sons. It’s a happy time for many but not for us. It tears us apart. On Christmas morning when everybody eating their ham, lamb and jam, we does stay inside we old house. We don’t come out for nobody to insult we. Whatever we have to eat...if it is rice and salt, we don’t ask nobody for nothing,” Harriet said.
She said many days the family would go without food.
Harriett spoke proudly of her two sons, who often complain about the conditions in which they live.
“Aaron has the potential to pass for Presentation College in Chaguanas. This is what his teachers have been telling me. He tops the class in mental Maths questions. It grieves my heart to see them struggling.”
Mark, she said, was also excelling in the science subjects.
At the time of the visit, the boys were in school. The family had no photos of them. Yesterday, speaking to Aaron on a neighbour’s phone, he said that he placed fourth in test. He said he had gotten used to studying under the dim street light. Mark, meanwhile, said the only difficulty he faced when using the street light was when there was no electricity in the community. Both boys said they want to become lawyers when they grow up.
Winston admitted that in an attempt to give his sons a better life, he sent them to live with one of his daughters.
“Yes, it’s true, I couldn’t afford to feed them and sent the boys by one of my daughters. But after about nine months, they started to fall back in their school work and I brought them back home. There have been more downs than ups for us,” Winston said.
Villagers confirmed Winston’s claims.
Winston said he did not get a proper education and wanted the best for his sons since this was the only way out of poverty.
Harriet said it was no secret that Mark and Aaron would study under the street light once the weather was good.
“We cannot afford to buy candles so they can study at home. Purchasing food is more important,” Harriet said.
The couple said the boys would do their homework as soon as they got home on evenings, but at nights when they wanted to read, study or revise for exams, they would use the street light.
“I know it’s not the best condition because the light is dim, but it’s better than nothing.”
Amid all the hardship, the couple, who have been living together for the last 30 years and have been married for the last 22 years, still find something to smile or even laugh about in their daily lives. Winston said through thick and thin, their love for each other remains strong.
National Commission for Self Help CEO:
We will help
Yesterday, CEO of the National Commission for Self Help, Amy Harripaul, offered to provide the Halbals with a $15,000 minor repairs/reconstruction grant through a purchase order, with which they could buy building materials at a hardware of their choice.
Harripaul said she would first send someone from the commission to interview the family and examine their home.
“The family would have to provide us with some documents. Once that is done, we can help them before Christmas.”