- Photo by Marlene McPherson
Carlene Pryce, from a household helper, she is now at college studying to become a teacher.
Marlene McPherson, Outlook Writer
The life of a domestic helper can be an unpleasant one in Jamaica, where she often works under circumstances that are subhuman. But some of them have moved out of those situations. Today Outlook features three helpers who have taken charge of their lives. One is now a successful business woman, one is a student nurse and the other, enrolled in the College of Agriculture Science and Education. We present their stories on this page as well as on pages 4, 5, and 16.
CARLENE PRYCE is not ashamed to admit that she was a domestic helper. But today she has changed her career path because she is a lifelong learner.
"At 18 years old, my first job was a domestic helper in Keystone. The family consisted of a wife and husband and a seven-month-old baby. But every time I fed the baby, I remembered my own so I told them I had to go."
That was one of the jobs she held in a profession filled with challenges, in which she was required to leap more hurdles than athletes in the Olympic Games. She remembers well her job in Cherry Gardens where, "I felt like a part of the family. The children had confidence in me and all were pleased with my performance."
That was until the dog tore the wife's dress. This displeased her. Carlene, the helper, should not have allowed it to happen. The husband tried to show his wife how it could happen to her too, but she refused to see it.
"I left because I did not want the husband to be taking sides."
So she went job hunting. "I went in answer to an advertisement one Sunday evening. I met the lady of the house who was a nurse. She showed me my plate, spoon and hassock to sit on to watch television. She also showed me a small bed like an examination bed used in the hospital to examine patients. This was in a small room. That night my sleep was unforgettable. Whenever I wanted to turn on the bed, I literally got up, turned and then lay down.
The following morning, I told her I am leaving."
Carlene was undaunted by this experience. She took a job in Norbrook with a family of five. She expressed to them, her desire to learn a skill, sewing. An arrangement was made for this to happen on certain days after work.
However, she was later asked, "If you go, who will do the work?"
Disappointed
Needless to say, she was disappointed, but could do nothing but continue in her job as a domestic helper. Despite her broken promise, her employer tried to get her motivated.
"She motivated me with sayings and sound pieces of advice. One of her favourite sayings was 'the world is a big cake and there is a slice for everyone'. She would send tokens for the children and advise me, 'always prepare for your children, have a passport and a bank account for them'."
Carlene continued, "she entrusted me completely with the monetary transactions of her business entities. I remember a large sum of money on my person and it was when I handed over the money to the cashier that I stopped fretting."
Carlene said that her employer would go to the United States where she worked as a helper and she would report to Carlene that if her employers in the U.S. were rude to her she would tell them "I hire and fire in Jamaica".
She told Outlook, "My employer acquainted me with her family members and associates. But she did not relish my going home on weekends and this was our sore point but it was my stepping to move on."
She left this job, worked as a bartender then went to a bakery where she made bullas.
Carlene is also called Aunty Bab. Outlook spoke to one of the last persons for whom she worked as a domestic helper. "I discovered that Babs was efficient in executing her tasks and a great parent figure to the children. One of the outstanding things she did was to engage the children in reading and in any academic interest."
Seeing this, the employer sent her to an evening institute - Calvary Missionary Evening Institute where she sat Human and Social Biology in General Certificate in Education (GCE).
This was her first time taking an examination as she had left Reach All Age in Portland, a little before graduation.
"I felt out of place because I was the big girl there."
Gained entry
But she was successful and went on to get four subjects at that level. Today she has gained entry to the College of Agriculture Science and Education.
At 40 years old she is confident in achieving her goals. Her son, a teacher at Happy Grove is pleased with her progress.
Carlene has put the intimidation she felt at first, behind her. She is taking in all she can learn. At the same time, she still has her eyes on her first love - nursing.
