“Only love was there at the ghetto’s end”

— Axx of Jahpostles

In every society there will be those areas or regions deemed as at the lower end of the social economic totem pole. In Brazil, those areas are referred to as favelas. In London, England, it was at one time the East End.

Here in Bermuda, that region would have the following boundaries: north from Victoria Street, east of St John’s Cemetery and west of Roberts Avenue. Smack dab in the middle was the place where the entire island sent their garbage. The common term of this area would have been “back of town”.

Roun’ de Curve

No matter how well kept the homes, real estate values would never seem to appreciate. No matter how educated or skilled the individual, employment opportunities were offered or denied based on one’s family name and/or home address. Essentially, wider society, of all complexions, generally did not have much positive to say about either the area or the residents.

Accordingly, the people of those areas knew then that the only way forward was to work together in order to raise families, look out for neighbours and create employment. Most importantly, to prepare the next generation for academic, social, political and economic progress.

There is one particular name for its winding road. On that road, there was once a hospital for those who could not go to the mainstream hospital. There were four churches of different denominations, ranging from Anglican to Pentecostal. Also there were several businesses which provided skills training and employment for many from the area. Some of the proprietors were Freddy Lee’s auto body shop, Mr Smith’s carpenter shop and Frank Mello’s bakery, which produced the island's best cream puffs.

Each of those entities attracted persons from around the island to the St Augustine/ Smith’s Hill/Curving Avenue region — aka “De Curve”.

The cornerstone

Nestled in the southern corner of the bakery is an enclave of homes. One home in particular was, to all intents and purposes, the place were young and old gathered on a daily basis to talk about the day-to-day happenings, get a warm meal and to passionately argue about football.

This particular house served as a home for many who needed a shoulder to lean on, a homemade meal or some back-of-town “counselling.” Most of all, the home served as a central place of love for all who entered the yard, as it was literally the cornerstone of the Curving Avenue community. Hundreds of persons in Bermuda and abroad would testify that yard was a sanctuary, a source of inspiration and direction of how to elevate to the next level.

On Saturday, August 26, hundreds gathered on the corner, on the stretch, and through the alley. Some danced to the lively music, some served food. All were just were happy to be “back on the corner” with the persons they grew up with. In essence, they celebrated being one family.

No matter what they were doing, all came out to pay tribute to the matriarch of that home on the corner. The strong woman who moulded and built those of us from “back of town” as one. Some called her “Mama”, some called her “Granny”.

Thousands of Bermudians lovingly called her “Aunt Tiny” or “Ms Tiny”.

• Christopher Famous is the government MP for Devonshire East (Constituency 11). You can reach him on WhatsApp at 599-0901 or e-mail at carib_pro@yahoo.com