Mayflower St. cleans up its act
We hate to admit it, but when News 5 is summoned to Mayflower Street, it’s usually because a shooting has just gone down or there’s a police raid in progress. Tonight we are pleased to bring you a very different sort of story from Mayflower Street. As News 5’s Ann-Marie Williams found out, the residents of this area are keen to clean up their reputation and their neighbourhood.
Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting
“When we report on Mayflower Street it’s usually because a crime has been committed. Today, the eighty odd residents: men, women and children of this area, have decided to put their shoulders to the wheel and clean up their environment in an effort to change a stigmatised image.”
Marsha Smith, Resident
“They stigmatise the area due to the guys them; that’s one. But by us cleaning up, I think it’s a good thing because as I say, it wah take out some of the bad luck. Maybe this is the bad luck we getting off the streets anyway. I think other people will agree with us and think different that they will say, “what Mayflower Street di come together as one.”
Residents have taken matters into their own hands by inviting a group of activists about a month ago to assist with rebuilding the community, starting with its image. Former Superintendent of Prisoners Bernard Adolphus, is a group member.
Bernard Adolphus, Community Activist
“We are here as a result of the community complaining also to us about four weeks ago. These people comprises Mrs. August, who is the president or ice president of the BOWAND association, Ms. Marie McDonald, who is also our public relations officer, Ms. McDougall from NOPCA. And we have two other Christian guys, one from the Muslims, I think it’s Mr. Elijio, who has been here on several occasions and myself. The whole idea is to try and inspire and encourage by practically getting in the field, getting in the ground and help the community around here clean up this area, and we’re starting with this.”
And the first clean-up campaign in the Mayflower community started at 6:00 a.m.
Gerald Goff, Resident
“Happy, feel proud about it.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“Try to make a change for the place you live in?”
Gerald Goff
“A better environment.”
Annica Bradley, Resident
“It feels nice to clean up because I wah play inna the yard.”
Cynthia Goff, a former Miss Y, is the matriarch of three generations residing in the area. She has called Mayflower Street home since she was twenty-three years old, and never felt she would one day feel ashamed of her address.
Cynthia Goff, Resident
“Sometimes when I go to any place and they ask me weh you live, I feel shame to tell them that I live dah 77 Mayflower Street, which in I never know it as “Ghost Town”. I know it as “Prisoner Creek” and Lake Independence and know I di hear bout wah “Ghost Town” and Crips and this and that. I never hear that before.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“Why do you feel ashamed to tell them that you live in Mayflower Street?”
Cynthia Goff
“Because too much thing happen round here and when the things happen they include everybody. I tell them the other day that we all birds of all feather, but we no flock together.”
Bernard Adolphus
“They have been complaints like any other communities. What is very notable is that sometimes the crime is committed elsewhere and they run in here and then in some cases they get blamed. In some cases they are involved, but in most cases as we get it they get blamed.”
A community that is tired of getting the blame says given the resources, they are willing to make a change.
Marsha Smith
“We just need a little help from the ministers them. The more help we get, the better could be done.”
What happened on Saturday will not automatically change the image of Mayflower Street, but it could act as a catalyst for an area that for too long has been written off by many of us as unsalvageable. Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.
