Nine children, four under the age of twelve, left by their mother Valerie Gordon who dropped dead after police allegedly opened fire near her Sophia home, are to receive government assistance until adulthood.
On the 9th of this month, Gordon had left attending to a customer in her shop and dashed, outside after hearing shots, for fear that her son might be hit. It was at the door of her shop that she collapsed into the arms of another customer.
Her autopsy stated that she died of haemorrhaging in the brain caused by a burst artery and hypertension. She had an underlying hypertension problem her family had stated.
When Stabroek News visited the family yesterday at their Sophia home they stated that they had just returned from a visit to the East Bank Demerara Welfare Office where they met with officials to discuss obtaining government support for the minor children.
They had been advised by Minister of Human Services, Jennifer Webster to contact the nearest office and given that they are originally from Timehri, arranged the meeting. The Human Services Ministry had also given assistance to the family for Gordon’s funeral. They are now to return next week with the relevant documents and the process would begin. They are optimistic that they will qualify for assistance as they are in dire need of it.
The children are also appealing to the public to render whatever assistance is possible to the younger ones who need it most.
Minster Webster said that she had met with the husband of Gordon who explained that the family was forced to squat at the Sophia location given that there were no jobs available in Timehri to sustain them.
The children would journey to school there every day or would sometimes stay at an aunt returning at weekends to be with their mother. The family does not want move the children to the city since one will be taking the Grade Six examination next year and the father is optimistic that he will be able to find a job and they will one day move back to their Timehri home. “ I don’t want them to move to town because one sitting exams next year and ain‘t want disturb him…but I hoping that I can get a good paying job and we can move back home and not be some here, some there at the aunty”, said Stanley Gordon.
The man , who is a mason, is finding it hard to hold down a steady job, putting himself and children in dire financial straits which he said frustrates him as a man and father. “It hurts me that I am a man with a trade and can’t find work it’s a two-day here this week three days somewhere else and I have to come home to see my children hungry.”
The eldest daughter, 22 year old Lauana Hendricks explained that she was forced to now take on the role of both mother and older sister of her siblings. Hendricks is to soon become the legal guardian of her siblings as she is the one who will be filing for assistance. She related that as the matriarch of the family succumbed so did her catering business- the main source of income for the 12-member family.
“Business ain’t doing but we trying because we have to provide for the little ones…everyone know she died and although we try cooking and selling it is not the same because everybody accustom to her hand so them ain’t buying the food. We praying though and will find a way to make out but we need `lil help to balance we self you know”, she said.
The family is hoping that life will soon again feel normal and is anticipating a speedy and favourable response from the ministry.
