Flood victims receive hampers

VICTIMS of the November deluge in Tobago which left two persons dead and several homeless were presented with Christmas hampers by the Rotary Club of Southwest Tobago during a ceremony at the Castlewhite Hotel, Thursday afternoon. Several of these families are housed at the hotel while others have been placed at various apartments and guesthouses or reside with family and friends. Following the presentation the happy troopers told the media that they were “trying to make the best of a bad situation” and were eagerly looking forward to spending a happy Christmas and an even brighter New Year despite the recent upheaval of their lives.

When Newsday spoke to Gustavus “Dakky” Ferguson who lost his 16-year-old daughter Kathy Ann after she was trapped beneath the mud and debris, he too was looking forward to spending Christmas with his family. Dakky revealed that he, as well as his daughter Kale Ann, 23, and Kershon, 17, would be spending the day with his wife Shirley and daughter Kwasi Ann 8 in Trinidad. His youngest son Kurlon 11 had opted to stay with relatives in Tobago. Kwasi Ann and Shirley are said to be in stable condition at the Eric Williams Hospital and the Port-of-Spain General Hospital respectively, although Shirley recently lost her left leg.