A woman who once walked the length and breadth of Barbados selling vegetables has joined the island’s revered group of centenarians.
Germaine Clarke celebrated her 100th birthday on Sunday surrounded by family and friends at the Holy Innocents Auditorium at Arch Hall Development, St Thomas. She was later visited by President Jeffrey Bostic.
Germaine Clarke beams as she receives a basket of flowers from President His Excellency Jeffrey Bostic. (Photo Credit: lourianne Graham)
For much of her working life, the centenarian was a hawker, collecting yams, potatoes and eddoes and taking them across the island to sell, including on Baxter’s Road.
Relative Orlando Alleyne recalled: “I remember Germaine going the length and breadth of this country, collecting potatoes, yams, eddoes and all these things.”
He still marvels at how sharp she remains whenever they talk, he added.
Her youngest grandchild, Patricia Clarke, said the centenarian helped to raise her and her eldest brother after their mother died at 34. She reminisced about walking the back roads of St Thomas with her gran, carrying yams and potatoes, and admitted that she threw away quite a few along the way.
“I remember hearing stories… and jokes about how they don’t interfere with the monkeys and the monkey lashes somebody with its tail. And I think the stories were to help me ease the burden of the load with the long walk.”
Oldest granddaughter Avaline Williams said: “She’s very stubborn, she loves to eat, she loves people. She’s a very caring person. She normally looked after people when she was good. In her neighbourhood the young people, to this day those young people they come out and look out for her.”
Avaline Williams shares a photo moment with her grandmother, Germaine Clarke. (Photo Credit: Lourianne Graham)
President Bostic hailed Clarke as an entrepreneur before the word was in common use, noting that hawkers had contributed significantly to building Barbados and had helped send many children to school.
“Long before Barbados had its first recognised entrepreneur, you were one. Long before small businesses were established, you had one,” he said.
Asked the secret to her long life, Clarke replied simply: “I go to church. I go to work; when I tired, I stay quiet in bed, and then I go out again.”
She shared her favourite meal, which the President expressed a desire to taste from her hand: “I love my cou cou…I can still cook it.”
She also recalled losing her house during Hurricane Janet in 1955, which forced the family to take shelter at the church.
Her only complaint today is her feet, but the President was quick to put that in perspective:
“The feet may be tired now, but you know what? The amount of time you walked around this country, you have left your footprint on the sands of time.”
He presented her with a birthday gift, a bottle of a non-alcoholic beverage and a card, in which he described her as a national treasure.
Clarke has five grandchildren and ten great grandchildren and expressed her hope to celebrate still more birthdays with them.
(LG)
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