IN JAMAICA: 77-y-o Lloyd Noicley's worries about survival now that welfare benefit ceased by the Government... the $2,800 he receives as pension from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) each fortnight and the $3,000 from PATH every two months. He is now at a loss as to how he will manage without the latter.

BY INGRID BROWN Associate editor - special assignment browni@jamaicaobserver.com  Monday, April 28, 2014 

THE loss of both his legs close to 20 years ago did not kill Lloyd Noicley's spirit.

But the 77-year-old, who was recently struck from the list of beneficiaries under Government's social welfare system, the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), now fears that the quality of life he has enjoyed and the independence he has cultivated over the years will soon be eroded.

Lloyd Noicley demonstrates how he
weeds his yard despite being confined
 to a wheelchair.
(PHOTO: KARL MCLARTY)

Noicley, who has done everything for himself since his legs were amputated said he has been making ends meet with the $2,800 he receives as pension from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) each fortnight and the $3,000 from PATH every two months. He is now at a loss as to how he will manage without the latter.

"Is the first from mi foot cut off that mi fret so from me hear 'bout the PATH money because mi nuh know how mi going to manage," Noicley said as his eyes welled up with tears.

"Mi still weed mi yaad and all the roadside, wash mi clothes and throw them over the line and pin them and mi clean up mi banana walk miself, fork mi place, burn it, and plant mi banana," said the St Thomas resident, as he demonstrated his ability to undertake the chores.

"Ah just mek up me mind and ask God to help me because mi nuh have nutten more to live off," he said.

According to Noicley, he was looking forward to collecting the PATH benefit to purchase groceries this month and was devastated when the postmistress in his Rowlandsfield community informed him that no cheque had arrived for him.

"Right now if ah want ah drink mi haffi trust it from the shop because mi caan buy it," said the former cane cutter.

The senior citizen said he sometimes receives food from a neighbour, Canaan Jones, and from his church, but Noicley said he does not like to beg and had relished the independence which his own money gave him. To make matters worse, Noicley said he recently had to give up his plot of small cultivation as a relative needed the space to build a chicken coop.

And if that were not worrying enough, the senior said his wheelchair is falling apart.

"A lady mother died and she give me this chair and it is me who buy the paint and spray it miself, but mi need one with a soft seat because this one burn me bottom and it is hard to manoeuvre on the road when me going to church and so on," he said. more