The Tribune

By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

LOCKSLEY “Potcake” Thompson, a well-known street philosopher, is grappling with the loss of his son, who drowned at Potter’s Cay Dock last week.

Mr Thompson, a father of six, told The Tribune that Antonio Thompson, 42, was his first child to die. For about five years, Antonio worked at the dock, helping to rebuild stalls damaged by fires and unloading the Mail Boat. He lived in a one-room shack on a boat at the dock. 

Mr Thompson said nothing could have prepared him for seeing his son’s lifeless body in a body bag last Thursday.

“It really didn’t hit me until the following day,” he said. “Everybody started coming, sympathising. White boys, white girls too — he did know a lot of white people.”

He said he never realised how popular and loved his son was by others, with people offering condolences everywhere he goes and some of Antonio’s female friends bringing him food to lift his spirits.

He said his son, a Rastafarian, was known for his friendly spirit and love of conversation. He fondly recalled his son greeting him with “Blessed daddy” every time they saw each other. He believes his grief will feel heavier once the reality sets in at the funeral. 

The tragic drowning has also burdened him with the financial responsibility of burying his son. Known for dragging around his oversized cart filled with hubcaps and a sign with his “thought of the day,” his income from selling $10 hubcaps and his monthly pension barely covers his living expenses.

“Some days I make $300, some days people buy four,” he said, emphasising his unstable income. 

He said that usually when people are cleaning their car and lose a hubcap during the week, they come to buy from him on Saturdays. 

 He noted that there have been times when he made only $10 in a whole week. Now, he needs $7,500 to cover his son’s funeral expenses and repast, stressing that he wants to give his son a proper goodbye. 

 He said his son had a child with a Cuban woman in Miami, but neither the child nor the woman live in The Bahamas.

 He mentioned that his son sometimes drank with others at the dock.

 “So probably he got intoxicated, wandered off, and somebody who hated him caught him off guard,” he claimed without evidence.

 He lamented that Potter’s Cay Dock lacks CCTV cameras and electricity. He said he told police about his suspicion that his son was murdered, but they dismissed him.

 Potcake can be contacted at 428-2263 or 434-5430.