Gibbs: I own my land, I have
the proof, time to rebuild now
DUTCH QUARTER--Holding copies of a Certificate of Admeasurements and Deed of Sale and Purchase for her Garden of Eden land where the fire-destroyed I Can Foundation Foster Home stood, founder Cassandra Gibbs told the press Wednesday there is no question about ownership and for 25 resident children’s sake, now is the time to rebuild.
Saying she feels stonewalled in every attempt the I Can board makes to jump start the rebuilding of the home, Gibbs noted that her strong declaration stems from recent comments by Social Affairs Commissioner Louie Laveist that the rebuilding cannot get moving because there are land issues.
Shortly after the home was destroyed by an electrical fire in August, a member of the Carti family claimed the land, but never pursued the matter further than meeting with Gibbs and demanding to see her documents.
After the fire, some 22 orphaned, neglected, abused children, including children removed from unhealthy living environments by the Court of Guardianship were residing in the home and were rushed to safety across the street to the I Can Crisis Centre. They are still living there along with three new “siblings” who were recently sent by the court.
“We are cramped over there,” Gibbs said as she stood in front of the foundation of the old home which evolved into the foster home in the past 11 years. Starting only with her bus driver’s salary, Gibbs began taking in children from the community and, along with other like minded residents, founded the foundation.
Supported by board member Ronald Pinard Wednesday, Gibbs told the press the hold-up was not hurting anyone but the innocent children. She added that there must be a break down in communications in government to have prompted Laveist to say there were questions about the land ownership.
Reading a letter from Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards about the allocation of funds from the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo Facilities Shares Buyback Funds, Gibbs said it was acknowledged that she would lease the land to the foundation to build the home.
The buyback funds allocated to I Can are not sufficient to rebuild the home and the fundraising drive continues. Some US $40,000 has been raised so far and donations can be deposited in the foundation’s bank account at Windward Islands Bank.
I Can board and staff have been trying to make life as comfortable as possible for the 25 children, but are finding this trying because, for the past four months, the Central Government has not paid the NAf. 500 each for the 21 children it is responsible for. “I am stretching every dollar. Thank God for those [pointing to her two yellow school buses] because my money from there goes into the home.”
The monthly expense for the home is about NAf. 20,000 and funds are derived from donations as I Can does not receive a subsidy from the Island Government.
