Margaret Hughes (Muggie), a caring and community-conscious resident at Blowing Point, has been the recipient of a plaque from the Ministry of Social Development for her caring love for, and assistance to, a sick young man of the village over a period of 23 years.

Patricia Beard presents plaque to Margaret Hughes

The glass carving was presented to Ms. Hughes by Coordinator of the National Aids Programme, Patricia Beard, on Wednesday, June 13.

In making the presentation at the recipient’s home, Mrs. Beard said the young man’s mother died when he was a baby. As she neared the end of her life the mother asked Ms Hughes, who is not a blood relative, to take care of the youngster who was born with the HIV virus.

“This lady took care of him in spite of the stigma, discrimination and other problems he went through,” Mrs Beard stated. “She stuck by him and protected him. Now he is 23 years old, still going strong, but needs care.”
But Ms. Hughes now wants some help with the young man and sees his brother, who has been in prison for a long time, as the only person who can provide that assistance. That brother, who has always been protective of his sibling and defended him against the taunts of other young men, was jailed for fighting those youngsters.
“It is now four years since he has been in jail. He hasn’t killed anyone. I think they can let him out now. I want help with his sick brother.”

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