Women’s Chronicles

“For me the experience was life changing because in there, I had enough time to think and to figure out what I really want to do with my life.

“I am a businesswoman and I don’t want my business to go down but sometimes it really gets hard because everything comes in one time and even though you explain to people they still asking you to try and me with me good heart I can’t say no.

“When I hear the verdict, not guilty, it sent me in a rage.

“I am now waking up from the shock. You know, initially, I was in shock but now reality is stepping in and I am feeling emotional.

“I was just 15 when me mommy tell me she sending me for a better life.

  “You think I am happy?” she asks, her panting signalling that her baby is getting more difficult to carry by the minute.

“Only the pillow can tell how many tears I shed. It has not been easy you know but I would not give up and even though they pay late and the money is small I bless God for it.

“What you buying girlie? A gat celery, sweet peppa, bora all wah you want, a gat hay today.

“The pain never goes away,” she said passionately, gesticulating as she spoke.

“I see her come out the office in a flood of tears and is like me heart just go out to her and I had to stop she and ask she wah happen.

“Yes so…,” and then she was silent for a few seconds, or longer.

She is in her thirties, but still timid around her parents and older relatives.

“Mother’s Day is always a struggle for me because people believe I am not a mother.

“I can’t sit down. I just have to get up, I have to get up and get.

The first column on January 29, featured the experience of a battered woman’s struggle in dealing with a system that is not friendly towards women like her and dealing with her husband whose only intent is for her to return to their matrimonial home.

“It is a daily struggle, some days are good but others like you don’t get no sale.

“You think it easy? Let me tell you, the force stinks and if you don’t get a head on you shoulder it will destroy you, tek wah I telling you,” she said forcefully, her face contorting in the process.

“I can’t trust him, when he leaves the house I just know he is going to see somebody and my friends would tell me they does see him…,” she said almost to herself.

She stopped at the stall on Bourda Street and looked around before quietly asking the price of a slice of pumpkin.

She looks anxiously at her wristwatch before she begins to speak.