THE MEN of Ground Zero in Glebe Land, St John, have a plan – one to bring them from poverty into prosperity.
The plan is missing only one vital ingredient: capital.
“Once we have the money, we can make the next step,” said Michael “Red Mike” Richards.
He said they were not looking for handouts but for real sponsorship to start a small business as they were all entrepreneurs.
“All a we is entrepreneurs, but we need dead faces [money] or, better yet, a cheque, where we can cash and use the money to buy what we need to work,” he said.
Such sponsorship, however, has not been forthcoming as he said they only saw the front of politicians’ cars and then the back.
One man, known as “Crank Boss”, said times were hard but employment was the cure.
“T’ings dread; the men would like some serious employment. I got to live, I got to look good and smell good, I got to eat and pay bills so I do whatever li’l job I could find, like painting or landscaping, but things rough,” he said.
“Freeman” and “Rasta man” are two men with real talent and skill, albeit in different fields, who have found themselves on what is becoming a permanent place on the block.
“Freeman” said he was a heavy duty equipment operator but now only operated a small container selling cigarettes.
“I have been trying to get into MTW [Ministry of Transport and Works]. I send in real application forms, but none ain’t getting back to me; they just shake you hand. Now I got to sell cigarettes on the street to make ends meet,” he said.
As for “Rasta Man”, he was a teacher at a secondary school before hard times hit.
“I used to teach part-time as a craft teacher at a secondary school but they said they had no money to pay me so that was it. I would like to teach again,” he said.
In the midst of the sorrow, there was joy, though. As the men said, while they were poor, they could still relax like kings.
“This is the coolest spot around. A peaceful environment with no crime or trouble with police,” said Crank Boss.
Two businesses operate next to Ground Zero, Double Vision Hardware and Howell’s Variety. The operators of both establishments vouched for the men.
“They don’t give us any problems; in fact, their presence is a plus. We have a good rapport with them and while at times they could have their little uprisings, by the end of the day they are back together,” said Ikin Jordan of Double Vision.
As for Howell’s, the owner, who declined to give his name, said he had a good relationship with the men for years. (CA)