Ex-Sugar workers learn new skills

By L. K. Hewlett

Elvira Morton was a cane cutter for many years.

Now, she has moved on to other things.

There is no skin scorching sun, no swinging of the machete or trudging through field after field of tall cane grass.

Today — May 11 — she sits with her friends, old and new, and she hums one the folksongs she has recently learned.

She pauses to look at her project, a finely made handbag, much like the ones she’s seen in the tourist shops in town.

She smiles as she inspects her handy work, still a little in awe that she could ever make something so beautiful all by herself.

Other ladies sit around weaving, stitching, chatting and laughing.

The government organized a craft workshop where these women learned skills to create various craft items.

These items are now on display at the Keys Community Centre, for the closing of that workshop.

These women have known hardship and backbreaking work. After the end of sugar, they never expected to be busy again.

Now they are as busy, by doing something that is enjoyable and relaxing, that would in turn earn them a living.

Evette Archibald never dreamt she could own her own business, be her own boss and make good money. Here amongst friends, she is at ease and looks forward to those days when they would all meet to interact and learn different craft work.

The chatter fades out as Creighton Pension arrives. The ladies are always happy to see him, for he brings knowledge, fun and his hilarious poems of life ‘back in the day.’ Pension greets the ladies by name, as he has come to know and respect them: It is like being with 40 mothers and grandmothers.

They practise their folksongs, some dancing, some more intent on getting the words just right.

It has been three months and all their hard work is about to be displayed for all to see. Woven baskets, cleverly stitched bags, old-fashioned rugs and crocheted dolls are arranged on tables for the community to view and purchase.

The ladies are nervous, anxious, excited to the point of being giddy. They’ve donned their finest attire, some in regal African dresses with matching headgear, others in fancy chiffon dresses with purses swinging. It’s their time to shine and be the focus of attention as dignitaries and other guests file into the Keys Community Centre for the closing ceremony and Craft Exhibit.

Obarinda Liburd, a shy teen with a golden voice, serenades the ladies as they sit proudly at the front of the ceremonial area. Jovil Martin, Director of Social Development Community and Gender Affairs, chairs the event, inviting remarks from Celia Christopher, Industrial Estate Officer; Keith Phillip, SSMC Transition’s Officer, and Marcelyn Daniel, a member of Uprising Women.

These members of the Golden Years Club stand up, grabbing bunches of green figs, breadfruits, sweet potatoes and yams. They sing lustily, a song called ‘Breadfruit,’ and the crowd comes alive. By the second verse the audience sings the chorus along with the women, clapping, cheering and laughing at the true but funny lines of the folksong

Pension had taught them.

The ladies were not without musical accompaniment as two banjo players plucked along with the singers. One had to use a walker to get around on his one leg but he never missed a beat.

Pension reads aloud a self-written poem called ‘I Remember When” much to the delight and amusement of those in attendance. He recounts days gone by when children had roasted sweet potato for lunch, when neighbours shared what little they had with each other and when people woke up with soot filled nostrils from the kerosene lamps that burned through the night.

The awardees perform a second song, ‘One Hand Can’t Clap’ and the audience is in stitches at the witty lyrics. Gloria Govia quiets the audience and she belts out a melodic tune that leaves the audience shaking their heads in amazement at her talent.

The ladies proudly march up one by one to receive their awards for participating in the workshop.

So good is their work that the Curriculum Department in the Ministry of Education has requested the members of Uprising Women and the Golden years Club teach craft for one week in June at some of the schools on the island.

A fitting end and exciting beginning for these reservoirs of knowledge and experience.