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Mothers ‘blazed’ for not sticking to the task

-Long Look resident Esme Potter said some mothers are not paying enough attention to raising their children
Esme Potter, fondly called Mama Esme, makes her point at the community meeting at The Stickett in Long Look on April 18, 2013. Photo: VINO
One of the few youth at the meeting. Photo: VINO
One of the few youth at the meeting. Photo: VINO
Residents of East End/Long Look interact with Police Inspector Devonish following the community meeting at The Stickett on April 18, 2013. Photo: VINO
Residents of East End/Long Look interact with Police Inspector Devonish following the community meeting at The Stickett on April 18, 2013. Photo: VINO
Senior members of the East End/Long Look community are in full support of a Neighbourhood Watch. Photo: VINO
Senior members of the East End/Long Look community are in full support of a Neighbourhood Watch. Photo: VINO
LONG LOOK, Tortola, VI - "It time you children get some ambition and pride. It’s time you parents, who got them sleeping late and doing nothing, to wake them out of their bed and tell them help work," is the plea of senior citizen of Long Look, Esme Potter.

Ms Esme Potter, known and called by most 'Mama Esme' is one of several senior citizens residing in the East End/Long Look communities in Tortola. She has a burning passion to see the return of principles and values in homes and among her people of the territory and during a recent community meeting she made good the opportunity to take the microphone and belch out some of the issues that have been sitting on her stomach as it related to issues responsible for the degradation of the community over the years.

There was just a handful of youth who had the courage to sit under the white tent at The Sticket that was erected for community meetings, but they could have been seen in nearby yards, looking through windows, which gave a clear indication that they were aware what was going on and the messages of the night were indeed reaching them.

'Mama Esme’, a mother of seven boys, blazed mothers for not sticking to the task of raising their children with the right principles and values, which according to her is responsible for the sad state of affairs as they are today. She said that while it is understood that jobs are hard to find youth need to show ambition and not sit around idly waiting for a 'silver platter' to be put before them.

She, however, said parents have the greater role to play. "You ever see how mothers who claim they haven’t got money does suddenly find hundreds of dollars to be running up and down to the police station and the prisons and to pay lawyers when their sons get into trouble? It’s the same way you must find money to teach them right from wrong so they wouldn't get into trouble same way."

At the time the issue at hand was that of crimes, especially murders that were committed in the Long Look community. It was being implied that many persons know about these murders but are not going forward to give evidence to have the perpetrators brought to justice. Mama Esme was not prepared to carry anyone’s "blood" on her shoulders and without fear or favour said what she had to.

She congratulated those members of the community who went forward to give testimony that led to justice being served in the murder trial of Keri Harrigan, who was cold bloodedly shot and Killed. "I would have been disappointed, you know why? If you could have come here dusting light with night just shutting in and kill a man right there and get away. She said, however, that because of prayers that have been going up there is a feeling of change being felt in the atmosphere and is confident that things will soon change for the better in the Long Look community.

Ms Potter also called on the responsible government bodies to reinforce training of their workers who have to enter person’s premises in order to execute their duties. She spoke of an experience of a worker allegedly from Water and Sewerage Department getting into her yard unannounced while she was home and wide awake. "These are dangerous times and they can't be doing that, they have to announce their presence. He passed in and out on his cell phone and until this day he hasn’t said a word to me."

Another resident was not prepared to sit and hear mothers alone take the whipping for children gone bad and called on the police force to play a role in assisting men to stand up to their responsibilities so as to ease the pressure off the woman folk.

17 Responses to “Mothers ‘blazed’ for not sticking to the task”

  • wise-up (23/04/2013, 07:48) Like (17) Dislike (40) Reply
    We have persons in this country taking home ten thousands each month while the black workers in that very same company carrying home spit....it takes money to take care of children and i agree that more men should take financial responsibility for their children; how can MOTHER take better care of the CHILD while MOTHER is forced to take on 2 or 3 Jobs; when her child wakes up in the morning mother already on her way to the first job; when the child comes home from school MOTHER is on her seconds job....on the weekend MOTHER must also leaver her children un-supervised while she seek to make more money....NO mother in her right mind wants to neglect the child she gave birth to, BUT economics pushes her in that direction.....how can it be fair for a business in our country to me generating millions & millions per year and allowed to pay our people four dollars and fifty cent per hour while the owners/operators of these companies live large in our country(thats madness)
    • Miss P (23/04/2013, 11:23) Like (19) Dislike (2) Reply
      @ wise-up If you notice those taking home the 10K per month are the ones with 1 or 2 kids, and in some cases none at all, while the ones taking home 100s are the ones with 5 and 6 kids. Yet we have the audacity to complain there is not enough to feed our children and we have to work 2 and 3 jobs leaving children unsupervised.

      It is the same women who already have 3 children with two or three different men (not fathers and all these men are absent) who still lay down with these careless men who are already sperm doners (I would not classify them as fathers) to 5 children with 4 or 5 women and allow themselves to become pregnant again.

      We love to blame these Waist Of F…..g Times WOFTs walking about looking pretty strudding their stuff, but I think we should sometimes take a closer look at ourselves. If we as mothers pay attention to our children, no matter the amount, if we talk to them, instead of cursing at them, taking the time to love them and let them know they are loved, then when the WOFTs come around they will know where exactly in hell they should go.
      • wise-up (23/04/2013, 18:57) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply

        to Mss P; i agree with you 1000% and at the end of the day it is up to us a people to understand what is holding us back then correct it( i guess those girls just love sex....becasue the first child father do not contribute yet them on their back/knees making another child while strugling to feed the first child....must be some di....c...* dem like !!!!! )

      • same old (24/04/2013, 02:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        How about increase in kindness or even better an improvement in the condition of the economy?
    • **** (23/04/2013, 12:47) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Well said..
  • October man (23/04/2013, 07:48) Like (4) Dislike (9) Reply
    'Mama Esme' while I agree with you, the leaders of the country must also set an example!!
  • redstorm@hotmail.com (23/04/2013, 09:36) Like (23) Dislike (0) Reply

    The young generation today has gotten their own way of doing things, mama so right to ask mothers to get them babies out of bed before the sun rise. I watch how many people live , two cars, fancy clothes, four five children, one job and no husband, the boyfriend comes with sweet nothing. Mana when young people ears hard it hard. Why young people think that they have to dress with brand name is beyond my thinking. Coach does laugh hard when he see them coming, and Gucci does smile and say they will come again, but look Nike and all the brand name shoes, they does just raise them head and say, we will always be here. Young people do not understand the dynamics of trades and the value for money.
    If you wuk fo 9 dollars do not spend ten dollars, if you have one salary don't make children each year, it cause money to raise them up, space them out every five years. Don't watch what the others are been paid 10K or 5K per month, you don't know what they are doing to get that money , try to manage your little pennies. There are good council from Mama and she have the experience young people should listen and act it will help with discipline.
    Watch the expat, they come here looking the meager jobs , send they money home and build their country. Now I see the men sending their wives and children home and they staying behind working and every three months them gone home. I watching them because there are things to learn from everyone in this community.

  • @redstorm (23/04/2013, 10:15) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Very well articulated.
  • Out of touch (23/04/2013, 10:41) Like (2) Dislike (30) Reply
    I think she completely misses the fact that unlike the time when she stayed at home and tended to the home while her husband worked, the mothers are the ones working today and the ost men are sitting on the side and those working are budy chasing school girls and everything else that's female and male as well.They are certainly missing in action on the home front.
    She needs to tell the men to take up their God given responsibility because he will judge them. Which mother today can stay at home and depend on a man to support the home. What more does she want mothers to do. A mother cannot be a father, no master how hard she tries. These children needs the authority figure of a father. Stops blaming the mothers. The role of training and managing the home is that Of THE FATHER. Go read your bible


    • m$. p (23/04/2013, 12:12) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      @ Out of touch
      We women need to have more self respect, exercise a whole lot more common sense, use contraceptive and stop thinking he might not take care of the others but he will take care of mine.
    • P (23/04/2013, 12:31) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ Out of touch: We as women need to have more, much more self respect, exercise a whole lot more common sense and practice using more contraceptives.

      We can blame men all we want but until we start taking responsibilities for our own actions we will forever be giving births to "victims of circumstances" because that is what these children are.
      • cuba (23/04/2013, 17:01) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        Ms.P, i do agreed with you,let them sit and making babies for every TOM, DICK, and Harry that pass by, then blaming goverment and everyboby else for their mistake. AS i read on a young man profile, Quote "not wilingl to settle for less than i offer" its better to get by on your own than to be miserable with someone" what you put up with, you end up with.
        • jazz (24/04/2013, 02:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          We need to properly care for our children, and the state needs to set the example.

  • sayso (23/04/2013, 13:00) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    @Out of touch,

    I agred with you to hell withthe others you right this is not the 1980'
  • small head (23/04/2013, 16:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    ONE THING I MAINTAIN IN ALL OF THIS IS 'He without sin cast the first Stone"
  • Shara Parlin (23/04/2013, 20:53) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    deeds old pll aint playin or jokin dem got wisdom yall


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