Fire victims receive significant donation
Tuesday May 27 2008 by Nikisha Smith
The Antigua and Barbuda Association of Georgia made a presentation of $10,000 to the Hunte and Jacobs Medical Fund yesterday.
President of the association Earle Turner, accompanied by his wife and secretary Janice Turner, made the presentation to members of the special committee set up to manage funds for the medical care of Marlon Hunte and Paula Jacobs, who were severely burnt in a barbecue accident in April.
The presentation took place on set at the ABS studios. The cheque was accepted by the Co-ordinator of the Fund Michael Flemius and Tavia Hunte, wife of Marlon Hunte, who was accompanied by their one-month-old daughter Serenity, born after the accident.
Turner said, “I hope that this will assist you both and the families with the medical expenses associated with this trauma.” The monies were raised via their annual banquet, through donations from members of the association and money solicited from family, friends and business associates.
Turner promised that another donation should be forthcoming in two weeks.
Flemius thanked the association and said that the contribution was timely and promised that it would be spent in a responsible manner to help the two on their long journey of recovery.
He said their family has seen an outpouring of support on behalf of both fire victims over the past month.
Fleming said, “What we have actually seen is not just the saying that we are our brother’s keeper but the demonstration.”
In most likely her first media appearance since the accident, Hunte expressed her thanks on behalf of her family and said that the donations have been of great help.
“We are very happy that the entire island and Antiguans outside of Antigua have come forward to assist us in our time of need.”
Speaking to the Antigua Sun, Hunte said that she will be travelling to Guadeloupe in about two weeks to visit her husband for the first time since the accident and taking along their daughter and nine-year-old son Tequan. She said that she hopes that seeing the children will give him encouragement to heal faster.
Joy Ann Friday, relative to both victims, said that the two are improving considerably and in fact taken off their respirators and are breathing on their own. Hunte has been breathing on his own for about three weeks, while Jacob for two.
Friday reported that to date Jacobs has had seven surgeries, including skin grafts on her chest, arms and legs. The dead skin was removed and the most critical areas were covered.
Friday said that the 25-year-old is now verbalising by moving her lips and has been asking for her son and family members. Her doctors said that she is doing well and is healthy and should be better able to talk by the end of the month.
Hunte has had two skin grafts on his left side, which sustained the worst damage. He opened his eyes last Wednesday for the first time and has been trying to talk despite being under heavy sedation. His doctor’s prognosis is that he might be able to return home by the end of June and be hospitalised in Antigua. Friday said that they would prefer Hunte stay in Guadeloupe and receive treatment rather than come home too soon.