VI Gov’t responds to one man protest; commits to assisting ailing educator
Mr Callender, a former primary school Principal in the VI who has given some 39 years of service to the education sector, is currently hospitalised nursing several medical conditions and has already lost one leg to diabetes.
With no biological family by his side, his brother, Mr David Callender rushed to be by his side.
On Monday January 20, 2019, his brother was forced to take to the street in protest against MASA who refused to medically transport Gordon, to be in the care of his family in Trinidad to be nursed back to good health.
“MASA killing people, my brother has insurance with them and they want to fly him on a commercial flight, look at my brother, look at my brother, I see sick people die on commercial flights,” he said David in tears.
Having spent several hours in the sun and rain, protesting, David said he was contacted by Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) who promised justice for Gordon, which includes transporting him Trinidad on a chartered flight outfitted with medical personnel, looking into his benefits and a decent home for him to live on his return.
This was after word circulated that David was preparing to take his protest to the the House of Assembly.
Robbed
The matter of MASA was compounded with another injustice according to David, “my brother was robbed…He had paid a local contractor to do his home and he was robbed terribly, that’s why today he is homeless with no proper place to call his home.”
He noted too “my brother is a very simple man, he has his pride and left alone he rather lie in that hospital bed and die with the grief from the injustices he received from the government and people, who he thought were his friends here in the VI, that’s who my brother is.”
He told this publication, the former education “doesn’t like confrontations, he would suck it in and take it to his grave and that is what is killing my brother.”
David said that he had to make the sacrifice to stand up and fight for his brother, “when I come (breaking down into tears) when I was my brother, he is a piece of a man, that not my brother, this is the man I know (showing a photo of his brother in better times) and it’s the stress that have him now a piece of a man and all I want to do is to take him and care him to return to good health.”
Heartless
Sobbing continuously, he related that heartless persons had the audacity to confront him, accusing him of wanting to take his brother away against his will, “I left my wife and daughter with our very small business to come and take care of my brother…We are a very simple family, we don’t like publicity.”
David recounted that his brother called him last November because he needed the help.
“I had to drop everything and come because that’s not like my brother to call me for him and when he did, I knew it was more than he could bear”
In giving brief details of his brother’s present state, David said his brother gets delirious at time and refuses to take food.
“He gives them a hard time to eat, sometimes they have to give him the food intravenously…I can’t go and leave my brother in such a state…I love my brother and respects him but in a time like this I have to do what is right for him because he wouldn’t do it for himself.”
According to David, “my brother calls the VI his home, it’s close to 50 years he been here and I respect that…I am taking him to care him to be back the man I know and when he is well enough to return he will, I am not taking him away from the VI…He calls here home, and look he don’t even have a house, he was robbed and mentally beaten.”
David said that since this plight of his brother hit the media the response of support is overwhelming, “I want to thank VINO, you are the justice line for people like me and my brother and thanks also to Pebbles, they have been doing their best for my brother.”
Virgin Islands News Online has since confirmed that VI Airlink will has been contracted for the charter, however medical arrangements are still to be put in place, including sourcing a nurse to travel with them and for a hospital in Trinidad, to accept Mr Gordon Callender upon his arrival.
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17 Responses to “VI Gov’t responds to one man protest; commits to assisting ailing educator”
God's speed to both of you.
There is no representation in this place. Nonsense left, right and center and nobody to go to. MASA needed to honor the request as long as he's moving from hospital to hospital. Talking sh..t.
Now David, get a power of attorney from your brother and look into all who ripped him off in building his house. Talk about working hard for nothing. Greed is a shi...y thing mehson.
To think we’re lost souls - My disbelief
What’s leftover to gain - power and fame
Whilst repeating traumas one after another
I’m overcome with emotions - to my dismay
Why can’t we Love n lift each voice the same
We so drowned Out by distant drums not distance
Turning a Blond eye’s is weak - F*uck the resistance
I hear your cries I feel your pain
Where’s the empathy, does any remain?
You’re overwhelmed, I’m ashamed