In a rickety one-bedroom house, perched on top of a hill at Quevador Circular, East Port-of-Spain, the Joseph family lives in abject poverty.
For Troy Joseph, his common-law wife Alana Moscall, 38, and their 11 children — whose ages range from 24 to four — it’s a daily struggle to survive.
On Joseph’s 48th birthday- June 11, one of his sons and family’s sole breadwinner was gunned down in Port-of-Spain by unknown assailants.
Since then, Joseph claimed his life has been turned upside down as the $1,900 monthly National Insurance Board grant is barely enough to feed his family and send four of his children to school in Beetham Gardens.
Two of Joseph’s daughters, Salisha, six, and Soriah, five, have never seen inside a classroom.
“I want them to attend Bethlehem Girls’ RC Primary but never enrolled them. I never got around to it. I lapsed,” Joseph said, bending his head in shame.
Inside the family’s cramped run-down structure, seven of the children sleep on a four by six size bed, while Joseph, his wife and their four youngest children sleep on another mattress.
Earlier this year, a foundation post under their house collapsed causing the house to tilt, while the roof leaks in several places.
Though the family has pipe-borne water, their electricity had to be disconnected after a wall at the back of the house, where T&TEC’s had installed the electrical metre, began to crumble.
Through sobs, Joseph said since Kareem’s murder their lives have turned to misery.
Kareem, 22, who worked as a labourer at the Macoya Wholesale Market single-handedly maintained the family.
“My son was at the wrong place at the wrong time when gunmen opened fire. They killed him on my birthday. This tore me to pieces. I still can’t overcome the grief and pain it has caused because his killers are still running free. Every day he used to put money in my hand…a little $300 to see about his family….to send his brothers and sisters to school,” Joseph said, wiping away tears.
Since Kareem’s death, Joseph said the family has been suffering in silence.
Expecting his NIB grant next week, Joseph had no food in his cupboard to feed his children.
“My wife went clinic this morning. I don’t know what we cooking today,” Joseph muttered, as his three youngest daughters stood at the entrance of their doorway, overlooking their makeshift wooden staircase.
With blank stares, the little girls never uttered a word.
Once a day, Joseph said the family would cook what they can afford.
It costs Joseph $34 a day to send his children to school.
For him, putting food on the table for 13 mouths was far more important.
“Today the children didn’t go to school because my pocket is empty. That is how it is every month. I know they should be attending classes more regularly but better cannot be done,” Joseph said.
“We may not eat a good meal every day but what I give my children is love. I try to get a smile from them every day. I treat them equally. Sometimes they does get vex knowing that they have to do without basic things but they know what is love and laughter in this house.”
Joseph said that the Community Police Unit tried to help them in the past but they didn’t get very far.
After contracting cataract in both his eyes in 2014, Joseph claimed he was deemed medically unfit as a security officer.
“I worked for 18 years with the security firm, but I received no benefits. I came home not even with a penny for a rainy day.”
Yesterday, an official at the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services promised that a social welfare officer and social worker will call the Josephs before the end of the day.
Thereafter would do an assessment and once the family fits the necessary criteria they will be provided with overall assistance.