News

Homeless man seeks help

By TOUSSAINT SMITH, Staff Reporter

Lester Henderson - WINSTON SILL

'NO MAN IS an island' is what 17th-century English poet John Donne wrote, but for 59-years- old, Lester Henderson, he is one man on his own island.

Deported from Florida to Jamaica two months ago, Mr. Henderson has no place of residence. The streets have been his home since he arrived. "I live in the streets now, I don't have nowhere to go, I sleep now in a place up by Constant Spring Road," he told THE STAR.

Mr. Henderson told THE STAR, his reason for deportation, was the fact he didn't have a Social Security Card. "Because I never got no papers ­ no social security card in the country; the card allows me to get work... abroad I never had no place, a car, no money in the bank, no job... if you don't have any papers, you can't work or stay in the country."

Prior his deportation, Henderson lived on the streets for sixteen years while his stay abroad and did painting 'underneath the table' for a living, he said. The police arrested him at least fifteen times per year. "I lived on the streets for sixteen years because most of the times police arrest me all fifteen times for the year," he added.

Despite his misfortune with the authorities overseas, Henderson says he's a good man and has no problems with police here. "The American immigration brought me down and hand me over to the Jamaican government and they looked in the system and saw that I had a clean record. I don't have a bad record with the police dem here ­ I'm not a bad person."

Feeling out of place back home, Mr. Henderson, has no idea where his family is. According to him, he has an aunt living in England, by the name of Ms. Della Williams, but does not know her whereabouts. He has two daughters currently living in Jamaica. Their names are Camille, 21, and Stephanie Henderson, 19.

Presently, Mr. Henderson is pleading to anyone to provide him with a job. "I don't have any skills but I want to work, I need a caretaker job or a watchman job into a good area so I can get back on my feet," he added.