Grave hustlers see decline

For around $150 per grave, they would clean, raise and paint the graves of your loved ones on your behalf.

But the veterans have noticed a decline in business over the years.

Margaret Nelson, 53, has been providing this service to families for the past 35 years in the Paradise Cemetery on Keate Street, San Fernando.

She inherited the tradition from her own mother and returns every year to keep alive the business of caring for the graves of the dead. All Souls Day is a Roman Catholic holy day where prayers are offered for the souls of the faithful departed.

But Nelson said she has noticed a decline in the number of people who participate.

“We realise that the younger people now don’t want to come out,” Nelson said. “But I have my customers.

Hopefully after they die, their children will keep patronising me.” She works in a factory throughout the year, but business for All Souls and All Saints Days is always a nice addition to her monthly income as it is for many other of said hustlers.

She has worked alongside her husband, Kenwyne Jones, for the last 12 years, and one of the best graves they’ve worked on together was that of calypso legend, Rafael Arias Llama de Leon, or “The Roaring Lion.” “If you check it, his own really stands out among the rest with that golden lion on top of it,” said Jones. Newsday asked Jones whether he was ever “spooked” by working so closely with the dead. He said, “It has nothing in here that could do you anything.

Is the living that you have to fear, not the dead.” According to another veteran, Denjee Miguel, 52, who has been operating in Roodal Cemetery on Lady Hailes Avenue, San Fernando for 35 years, younger hustlers pose a threat to the survival of the business.

“Right now, is about 70 to 80 hustlers in this cemetery alone,” said Miguel. “It have more younger people who not as experienced as the older heads. When people get bad work from them, they will come with their own people after a time and that is what kills the hustle.” Indeed, there were a small number of teenage boys at the cemetery gates asking entering cars whether they wanted any work done.

Most of them lived in the nearby Embacadere community. Miguel said that younger hustlers get the bulk of the work because they are able to run after cars to attract customers, but when the work isn’t done well, they all suffer. He, however, has his loyal customers who call him in the week leading up to the days to ask for his services.

According to him, the average hustler could make between $1500 to $2000 for All Souls and All Saints work.

“Is a good little hustle, you know. It better than going and rob and kill people.” But not all those who wish to pay respects to the dead pay the living to have the work done.

Some families still do the work themselves.