ROBBED, shot multiple times all over his body and left for dead, Kenroy Bailey fought for life. He survived the attack which left him paralysed but that has not dampened his spirit.

“I ended up disabled about 10 years ago when I got robbed and was shot eight times in Mandeville. I was down at my gate waiting on a taxi when a bike pulled up and men held me up at gun point. When they were leaving they just started firing. I fell to the ground and I remember myself waking up in the hospital,” 30-year-old Bailey told the Jamaica Observer, adding that the violent assault happened 10 years ago.

“One of the shots damaged my spine. I came out of hospital and didn’t have anywhere to go so I went to the Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre. I was shot in my side, my hand, my back and my chest. The one that was supposed to kill me, missed,” added Bailey who grew up in a childcare facility without knowing any family member.

According to Bailey, he started going to a special school while at Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre and was there until he was given a job at the library at The University of the West Indies, Mona.

“I worked my way until I could rent somewhere down here at Cheshire Village for the disabled. I worked and worked until I could start my chicken business around the back. I ended up being able to buy a little car,” he said.

Now Bailey has his sights set on making a name for himself in the world of graphic designing from his wheelchair.

“I started my home business where I do shirt printing, posters and everything from up here. It’s kind of slow now but it is all right. I do other things too, like raise chickens and I have my little car that I use to do inDrive at nights. My main thing is designing, so people can call me if they want anything designed and printed,” Bailey pointed out, encouraging potential customers to reach out to him at 876-539-8657.

Bailey was among residents of Cheshire Village in St Andrew who were given care packages by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, through the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) on Tuesday.

“I am kind of happy that I have a little stuff in the care package, but this is not the main thing I would want to see right now. The help I am looking for is for people with a business mind, a working mindset. I am a computer graphic designer who learned everything since being in a wheelchair and I want to expand on my talent,” declared Bailey.

Another Cheshire Village resident and wheelchair user Christopher Russell was grateful for the care package from the JCPD.

He had special words for Fayval Williams, the Member of Parliament (MP) for St Andrew Eastern where the facility is located.

According to Russell, the MP has never neglected the members of the disabilities community who reside in Cheshire Village.

“Right now we are gathered with ministers, getting gifts and packages. Miss Williams, the minister of finance and public service…is always there for us. Sometimes, people try to tell me to move on, but I always have to talk about the COVID-19 pandemic because we received 100 per cent attention and assistance right throughout. This morning we got a big fat bucket of toiletries and food stuff and lots of love from the ministers,” Russell said.

In the meantime, Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr used the opportunity of the donation of the care packages to implore able-bodied Jamaicans to learn from the attitude of many members of the island’s disabled community.

Charles Jr commended the residents of Cheshire Village, who he said, despite being disabled, demonstrate how people can get things done with teamwork.

“I want Jamaica to learn lessons from the residents here at Cheshire Village who have an attitude of gratitude. When they wake up, they don’t take life for granted, while other persons are taking it for granted. People need to come here and sit down with you all and learn from you about the attitude to take on life. There are too many people who are taking for granted what they have everyday, but you don’t.

“Minister Williams said that all she had to do last week was give you paint and you did the rest in painting up your space. In some other place, people would say they are not doing it and you should send somebody to do it. This is what we need for 2025, to make sure that we can lift you up and that you can learn lessons from the residents of Cheshire Village and from people with disabilities,” said Charles Jr.

“There is a lot to learn from you about how you take on life everyday… I want to say thank you to the persons with disabilities who have been so willing to listen and to give their opinion to help us be better. I make a commitment to you, on behalf of the Government, that for 2025 we are going to do it big.

“This is the year we want to properly advance our ‘I am Able Campaign’… that is going to promote a positive message for persons with disabilities and also senior citizens in our country who need to know that they are able. We don’t only want to look only at what you don’t have but what you have and what you have been blessed with by the Almighty. This is our goal for 2025,” added Charles Jr.