Busy Christmas shoppers in Port-of-Spain took a few moments off their hectic schedule to stop and look at an “adorable” bundle — a little girl swaddled in a blanket lying in a trolley cart at the corner of Queen and Henry Streets in Port-of-Spain.
Leanda Cirmmingham, who is only 22-months old, was there along with her two other siblings - 10-year-old Kymani Burke and six-month-old Lakyda Burke.
Baby Kymani was nearby lying in a pram.
The children are in the habit of being close to their mother, Vanessa Burke, 29, of Quarry Street, Laventille, who is a seasonal vendor.
Burke vends on the capital streets during the Carnival season, August and Christmas season. In between “seasons” Burke sells soft drinks and cigarettes near her home.
This yuletide season Burke was selling kitchen towels, mitten sets, curtain rods and decorative floor mats.
Burke, a single mother, told the T&T Guardian she is “trying to make ends meet for her children.”
Asked why she had her children with her, she replied: “The way how society has become (referring to senseless and brutal crimes towards children). I prefer to have my children within my eyesight, safe with me. I do not trust leaving my children by people, even at day cares.”
“I used to work but right now I will wait for my children to get older and start school so that I can look for a day job once more,” she said.
Burke’s Christmas wish this year is simple.
“Wake up and see that my children are happy. Once that happens I am comfortable. I don’t bound to have anything.”
Burke said she would like Kymani to get a pair of sneakers and a drone for Christmas and a tablet computer for her elder daughter, Leanda.