Marva Hamilton’s message to commuters, pedestrians and drivers this morning was short and blunt: I need work, here is my cell number.
Marva, 45, told us today, Wednesday, that neither she nor her husband, Ira, 47, is working, and she has bills to pay, and has a son, 17, in high school.
“I don’t want to steal, so I am asking for work,” Marva told Amandala when we went to where she was stationed, with a placard on her chest, on Cemetery Road, just after the roundabout at its intersection with Central American Boulevard.
The Hamiltons, who have been married for 21 years, and their son live on Fabers Road Extension, and have been there for at least 12 years.
Their misfortunes began with what happened to Ira – just over 4 months ago, he was sent to jail for not paying a court fine after the prescribed time had elapsed. Marva told us that it was not really Ira’s fault. He had been in a fight, had been taken to court and charged, and given time to pay.
“He (Ira), who was doing security work with a local firm, J&B’s Security, had made arrangements with his job to pay the fine for him, in installments. He thought the firm had been paying, but then the police came for him, telling him that nothing had been paid to the court, and that the grace period had ended. They took him to jail,” Marva told us.
“Ira came out just this Monday, after serving 4 months. A security firm at Fort Point promised him a job, in two weeks. Maybe he’ll get the job, and maybe not. In the meantime, he hasn’t found anyting to do to earn money,” she said.
Marva’s own troubles began about a week ago. She was working at Tacos Paisanos Mexicanos, on Coney Drive, making $140 per week. The business had been holding back some of her pay, she said, and last Friday, she only got $50.
“They had $20 for me from the previous week, so they actually owed me $110. They told me to move my things that Friday, and to come back on Monday night, June 29, but when I went there, the business was locked down.
“On Tuesday, I was told to come back on Saturday. I went to Labour, but they told me to wait and see if the business would pay me on Saturday, July 4,” she told us.
“O.k., you want a job. What skills do you have,” we asked her.
“About 5 years ago, I used to work at Dario’s Meat Pies – I actually trained some people there. I was fired because the doctor told me I had to rest for a week after I had fallen down when I was working, suffering from a pain in the chest. The boss didn’t want to give me the week to rest, so he got rid of me. I spent 6 years and 8 months there.
“At the tacos place, I used to grill the meat, serve people, mop out, anything. I think they took advantage of me because they knew I needed the money. They weren’t even paying Social Security for me,” she lamented.
“So, how are you making life?” we inquired.
“Well, we have light, but that’s going shortlly, because we can’t pay the bill. We don’t have water; we have to go to the public standpipe on Fabers Road Extension, put there because there are so many poor people there.
“Youth for the Future pays my son’s school fees, and right now, I beg this one, and that one, and sometimes try to cook at a friend’s house. And I have other bills to pay, like to the bank and Courts (Belize),” she said.
Have you tried your area representative, we asked.
“Yes, but he only gives me the runaround,” she answered.
For a woman with responsibilities, in a tough spot, Marva didn’t look like she was about to cave in.
“I don’t want to steal,” she repeated. “All I want is work, for me and my husband. Just give us work.”
Marva’s cell phone number is 605-2740.