Blind man longs for his family to visit him

Rupert Bailey, from Auchtembeddie in Manchester, lost his sight 15 years ago when he got involved in a fight with men from a neighbouring community.

“Three man gang mi over Breeze Hole, seh dem lose ganja and a mi tek it. And the glaucoma was there in mi eye already, but the lick that I get in mi eye bring down a infection. And it deh deh till the eye get bad, and I go back to doctor and dem have to remove dis eyeball,” he said.

But his sight was not the only thing he lost. Soon after the incident, he also lost contact with his family, and he has desperately been trying to get in touch with them since.

“Mi mother lives in Blunty, Christiana. Dem nuh know which part mi directly live, but dem know seh mi still living. Mi mada name Tessi Books, mi have one sister name Debbie Bailey, and bredda name Albert Bailey,” he said.

“Mi and mi mada have good relationship. The last time mi go up deh is before mi eyeball tek out, and she tell mi seh she a come look fi mi, but mi nuh know a why because mi a tell har seh she nah fi have nothing fi come and look fi mi. But she seh she nah come unless she have something, but dem poor. But if mi get in touch wid dem mi wudda good,” he said.

The 58-year-old said that he occasionally catches glimpses out of his right eye, which allows him to travel up the rugged path to his house, and to go to church.

Bailey said it’s his church family that has been providing him with assistance, but their resources are limited.

“Other day mi church sista a seh dem wudda want a little stove and dem ting deh because dem wudda come cross more time come cook fi mi,” he said.