The elderly man in the wheelchair that you usually walk by daily in front of Demico House, Georgetown, was once a young promising intellectual that badly wanted to become a teacher, nevertheless his age has not allowed his dream of a better tomorrow to be diminished.
Compton Carter, who hails from Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), but is currently residing in Georgetown with hopes of a better life, plies his trade daily despite his inability to move around on his feet. The 76-year-old’s hope is to inspire amputees by his act of maintaining his independence.
Compton Carter
“When the doctors told me that my legs had to be amputated, I wanted to die right away. I thought there was no life for me after this but I was encouraged to take the surgery because my legs were poisoning me.”
Carter, who thought he would have been in despair and saddened at the lost of his legs, said he woke up after the surgery with a breath of fresh air and optimism.
“I want to be a role model for persons who are in the same condition as I am. I want to let them know that they can still maintain their independence even though they are in wheelchairs”, stated Carter.
He stated that life is not easy for him but he is thankful that he still has life.
“Some days when I come out to sell, I go home back just the way I come –that is with no money. Sometimes I get a small change to buy a breakfast and that is it, on lucky days, I get lunch too,” he said
Carter continued that his childhood dream of becoming a teacher was quashed at the age of 16 when his grandmother, whom he lived with, was unable to purchase his study materials. He stated that he excelled in all of his classes and on the fields in sport.
“I loved school so much but my grandmother was a shopkeeper at the Stabroek Market. She worked there for over 20 years until she passed away. She tried to send me to school but at the point of me going to further my studies to become a teacher she was not able to pay for my books and other things.
Carter continued that his first job was at the Guyana Chronicle working in the Compositing Department after which he did many jobs to put food on the table for his family as he grew older.
He added that he has been selling at the Demico location for the past 12 years.
A shy Carter revealed that he has a dozen children whom he keeps in touch with mostly.
