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Trinidadian
Family Still Clings to Hope Despite Odds |
New York, October 12: It's been more than a month already since that fateful September 11th morning when a nation watched with awe and horror as two 747 commercial jets slammed into the World Trade Center within minutes of each other. As the days have quickly disappeared into weeks and the weeks into an entire month, the hope of relatives and friends of loved ones, missing in the wreck and ash of what was once mighty pillars of economic strength and architectural pride, have begun to dissipate.
But Trinidadian immigrant and Rockaway resident Hubert Hinds is still hoping that a miracle will bring his dear wife Clara Hinds home to him and their two sons. In an exclusive interview with Caribbean Voice on Tuesday, Hinds said that he
is "still very hopeful despite all the information he has received."
"There are always miracles," said Mr. Hinds, explaining that in the Oklahoma bombing tragedy a baby was found in the ruins beneath his mother's body almost a month later.
Still, Mr. Hinds is realistic as he clings to hope. He does not expect his wife, who worked as a seamstress in the wardrobe department of the 106th floor of Windows on the World, to miraculously walk out alive out of the center's ruins. He reasons instead that his wife could be a Jane Doe anywhere who just has no identification, is unconscious or has amnesia and cannot give any information on her family. And while he has attended the memorial service for employees of the restaurant, he has yet to begin the process of insurance and compensation. "This is not about the money. This is about finding her," said Mr. Hinds.
Though he spent the days immediately after the disaster searching every hospital and even trying to get information from officials at the Armory or Pier 94, Mr. Hinds takes solace in the fact that Mrs. Hinds body has still not been found, a possible indication that maybe, just maybe, she is still alive.
"Right now I would love to see them find her," said Mr. Hinds in a voice wracked by emotions on Tuesday. "I'm trying to build myself up to that. At least if I knew then I'd be able to close that part of the wound. But the
longer it's open it's killing."
It is especially difficult for Mr. Hinds because he and his missing wife have shared 31 years of marital bliss. Infact, they were getting ready to vacation in Rome, Italy on September 17th when the tragedy struck. Mrs. Hinds was not even supposed to be at work that early, according to her husband. However, because she was due to be off on vacation the following
week, her boss had granted her request to work the 8 am to 4:30 pm shift that week, instead of her regular 9:30 am check in.
On the morning of September 11th, Mr. Hinds said his wife left early. "I was still sleeping when she left," he said. When he got up and began readying for work after 9 am, he said, he flicked on the television, only to be greeted by the somber sight. Rushing to the window of his sixth floor Beach Street apartment, he said he looked out, and saw clearly the smoke pouring from the towers. Mr. Hinds said he then rushed to the telephone and dialed his wife's number, but only got an "all circuits are busy" message.
In the days since Mrs. Hinds was so tragically torn out of his life, Mr. Hinds said he has taken solace in the fact that so many people shared his view that his wife was indeed "a very loving, warm and tender-hearted person" who always proffered a smile or kind word of advice.
"They'll never make another one like her," reflected Mr. Hinds. "I'm the breadwinner but she guided the family and kept it very close."
The San Fernando native also said his wife, who was born in Belmont, Port- of-Spain, made him a strong believer in God, whom she always put first. She also had a great love of all flowers, including the human flowers of God's garden. "She was always concerned about the homeless and always felt if she could change the world she would," added Mr. Hinds.
It is the numerous family, friends and lives that Mrs. Hinds touched, who are now lending support to her husband. "I haven't been lonely since," said Mr. Hinds.
And as hard as it is to come to grips with the reality of this horrific tragedy and the havoc it has wrecked on the lives of the thousands like Mr. Hinds and his family, the Hinds' have decided that it is time to at least celebrate the life of their wife, mother, sister, relative and friend. Ironically, in a church where her voice rang out in the choir and where she avidly participated as a Rosarian, her life will be remembered. On Friday, October 12th, Mrs. Hinds will be celebrated in mass with a memorial service, attended by her husband, two sons, four brothers and sisters, and numerous other relatives and friends at St. Gertrude's R.C. Church, 336 Beach 38th Street in Far Rockaway from 7 p.m.
As the Hinds' mourn, several other Caribbean families also mourn with them. On Monday, Sept 24th, the friends and family of Anthony Portillo, a Trinidadian architect, celebrated his life at the Calvary Cathedral of Praise in Kensington, Brooklyn. His wife, Minerva Mentor-Portillo, read "Footprints," a popular parable about a man's walk with God, from a plaque she had taken off her sister's living room wall. A parade of colleagues and friends ventured to the microphone, some speaking extemporaneously; several
singing acappella.
A group of Guyanese nationals also held a prayer vigil for its 23 missing on September 30th at Hanson Place Central United Methodist Church in Brooklyn.The vigil was organized by the office of the Guyana Consul General, Carol Bagot-Riley, Claire Goring and Pat Langford.
A number of Caribbean-owned businesses were also destroyed during the terrorist attack. The Jamaica Information Service, in a news release, stated that the businesses affected were located in the vicinity of the Twin Towers. Among the businesses affected by the disaster are two of the downtown outlets of Golden Krust Caribbean Limited, a popular Jamaican restaurant that specializes in Jamaican cuisine and pastry. The two restaurants, which operated at 96th Avenue and Chambers Street, near City Hall and 80 Nassau Street, a few blocks from the Twin Towers, are owned by Hillary Hurbs, a Jamaican.
President and CEO of the Caribbean-American Chamber of Commerce Roy Hastick was quoted as saying that a number of Caribbean-owned freight forwarding companies located at the center and employing a number of Caribbean nationals, were also destroyed.