The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune

On Friday, April 24, The Tribune reported that paperboy Michael died after a car accident. According to the newspaper article, Michael was going to the Guardian to get papers. As he was walking he had a seizure. A car ended up rolling over him. He was hospitalised for one month before he died.

The tragic death saddens me, particularly since the motor vehicular accident victim was personally known to me. He was a newspaper businessman who supplied his clients with daily printed matter to read, ingest, digest, and where necessary reject and expectorate. For 25 years (1991-2016) Michael delivered the dailies to my office, five days a week, faithfully and cheerfully, in sunshine or rain. He was paid at the end of each month, on production of his handwritten invoice.

In this new era of corona virus (Covid 19) pandemic when there is so much talk about who is essential and non-essential worker, I would hasten to describe Michael Johnson as not just an essential worker, but also a beneficial worker, especially before the availability of online news.

Michael was one of the industrious (hard-workingest) men I knew. After he was done his daily rounds, instead of taking the rest of the day off, he went to the foot of the bridge, at the intersection of Bay Street and Mackey Street, where he stood in the hot sun, or in spitty rain (fair or foul weather), selling additional newspapers well into the night. Even on Saturdays he was there, keeping us informed. All this was to provide amply for his family.

One day as he leaned his bicycle up against the office door to run upstairs to drop off the latest journals, I snapped a photo of him. I kept that picture amongst my special keepsakes. Regrettably, Hurricane Matthew (October 2016) did irreplaceable damage to the contents of my house, including hundreds of pictures, books and documents.

Michael Johnson’s photo might have been destroyed, but nothing can ever destroy my memory of him.

Thank you, Michael for being faithful, dedicated and committed. To Michael’s family, I extend heartfelt condolences.

GEORGE LL HEASTIE

Nassau,

May 13, 2020