Fruit vendor unmoved by election

Richard Bryan, Gleaner Writer

CHRISTIANA, Manchester:

IT'S 2:30 p.m. and amid the buzz of excitement from those who had already cast their votes, 47-year-old Leebert Daley pushes his cart around seemingly unperturbed. There is nothing politically declarative about his dressing although there is a blue band strapped around his left wrist, in much the same way a typical one is worn by a Jamaica Labour Party or People's National Party supporter.

He does not go unnoticed, as his coconuts, set at an attractive price of $50 each, are quickly sold. His oranges attract less interest, and it seems he will have several more trips up and down the one-kilometre stretch that is Christiana town.

"So you not voting?," The Gleaner asked.

"No sah. Mi don't feel di vibes voting now. Mi nuh know weh wi gwaan lata," he snaps back.

His immediate focus and priority, he says, is to sell off all that is on his cart and head home. There, he reveals, are his three teenaged children, two stepchildren, similarly aged, who depend on his daily tally from sales. His common-law wife also works, which he says stops the household from hitting rock-bottom.

Ditched cash crops

Up to a year ago, he did mainly cash-crop farming, but he ditched the trade after the proceeds were too small and infrequent to take care of his responsibilities.

His lack of interest, it seems, came from a frustration that he has never directly benefited.

"Mi neva get a pay bill from Government yet," he fumes. "None a dem neva assist me. A neva get a day wuk from none of dem. Not even a chain of road fi brush. Weh mi fi wear dem band an dem nuh know mi."

Most around him opine that Audley Shaw has done a reasonable job developing Christiana. He, however, has failed to see how that has redounded to him.

"Mi nuh seh development nah gwaan, but mi nah feel di enjoyment. At my age, mi shouldn't be paying rent."

While he loves his farming, selling on the streets has brought its benefits to Daley.

"Right now, mi a mek more than when mi a farm. At least once mi a sell mi two oranges, mi caan hungry. A di easiest way fi get food fi mi youth dem."

rural@gleanerjm.com