Today is not a day of merriment for Sally-Ann Cuffie. It has been about two months since she can no longer use her hands after her fingers were blown off by an illegal explosive.
The 48-year-old grandmother made headlines in November after her fingers were blown off by a scratch bomb on Divali night. She had snatched the illegal explosive next to her six-month-old granddaughter, Christa after it was thrown into the car while her family was out for a drive in Las Lomas #1.
With another festive occasion 50 days later, and promises by the Public Administration and Communications Minister Maxie Cuffie that he would do all he could to get the illegal bomb off the streets, the licenced firearm officer said the Government had not done much to help her.
Cuffie also assured her that the matter would be investigated and someone will be held responsible.
He had then said, “It is a sad thing to see how this has affected her life and her future...she should be paid some type of compensation by those responsible.”
Although she is out of hospital she said her pains continue. The dressings on her hands have to be changed regularly as she is diabetic and still at risk for amputation if the wounds become infected.
In an interview with the Sunday Guardian at her Phipps Trace, Talparo, home on Thursday, Cuffie said although she can hold baby Christa and play with her, her role as a grandmother ends there.
“I used to babysit her and her brother whenever I was home but now all I can do is hold her for a while,” she said. “I am in constant pain with my hands, the dressings have to changed all the time, and the nail on my right ring finger became infected a few days ago and the nail had to be removed.”
However, she is still happy to be with her grandchildren.
“Just to be with my grandchildren is a blessing..but I can’t do anything for them, I can’t even get them a gift for Christmas. When I was in the hospital, I was visited by people from the Ministry of Social Development and after everything, I was given a one-time food card for $400.
“What can I buy with $400? Me, who used to work all the time to buy nice things in my home? My hands are damaged and I cannot use them, that is not my fault!”
And while talk about stricter legislation on scratch bombs continue, Cuffie said she was left grasping at straws to survive.
“I was a licenced firearm security officer, now Social Welfare telling me they have to assess my home and see what I have inside...you tell me I work hard my entire life and they want to tell me the things I buy are the reason I have to suffer for the rest of my life?”
She said she was unsure how she will entertain her neighbours who usually come calling on Christmas Day. “This is Talparo, our Christmas is moving house to house and enjoying ourselves with our neighbours. I don’t even have a piece of ham to offer anybody,” she said.