Thankful Fabien goes back home

Broadcaster Errol Fabien outside his St Joseph home and television studio on Thursday. - Angelo Marcelle
Broadcaster Errol Fabien outside his St Joseph home and television studio on Thursday. - Angelo Marcelle

Veteran comedian and broadcaster Errol Fabien moved back into his house on Friday evening after a meeting with the bank which foreclosed on his St Joseph home and evicted him on Thursday.

"We have some agreements and I'm getting to go back into the property.”

Fabien told Newsday when the marshal of the court and the bank officer arrived to evict him on Thursday, he was given 24 hours to unplug and relocate the equipment in Gayelle’s master control room which is also housed at the home.

“I pleaded with them with respect to the equipment in that control room, and they told me they wouldn’t unplug it but they’d give me 24 hours to unplug it and relocate it, so they didn’t unplug it.

“The technology we use, we could do the station from remote, so we were able to log in and make sure the playlist was up and running. As far as I know, it’s still up and running. The Gayelle archives are also housed in that room.”

This is why he made an urgent appeal to the public to help raise the $350,000 needed. A Go Fund Me page was set up by his brother Simon B Fabien on Thursday morning, and a total of US$63,248 or approximately $424,394.08 was raised through donations in less than nine hours.

Fabien said he feels he has received a national award from the people who helped raise the funds to save the Gayelle TV station.

“Father Robert Christo put it in perspective for me this morning. He said what I received was my national award and I got it from the people, not from the State. I embrace that because it was an outpouring of love from the people.

“The State, in its power, could have intervened also but as God would have it, or as fate would have it, the people were able to create the magic to ensure the continuance of this very important institution called Gayelle, so I’m recognising and embracing that.”

Before the meeting, Fabien said once the bank told him how to get the funds to them, he would instruct the bank in Atlanta to send the money straight to them. As Go Fund Me is a US-based organisation, the funds are sent to a payment processor which would then send the money to a bank account in the US with a beneficiary chosen by the person who set up the fundraiser. The beneficiary on the Go Fund Me is listed as April Fabien, Errol’s sister-in-law who lives in Atlanta.

(Errol) Fabien said the outpouring of support was a powerful and loud statement to him that he has to continue doing the work on behalf of the Caribbean community with respect to Gayelle. Since 2004 when it was founded, the community television station has showcased aspects of TT and Caribbean culture through interviews, film and theatre productions and archiving the work of performing artists.

Fabien said all his personal items, household items and furnishings were removed from the house on Thursday. He said neighbours and friends have offered help with putting the items once the house, where he lives with his wife and two of their children, has been returned to him.

“Everything except the cameras and the equipment in the master control room was thrown out. Even the men who were taking out the furniture said ‘Oh God Mr Fabien, this hurting us you know. When you putting back call us, we will come. You don’t have to pay, just call us and we’ll come to put everything back.’ My neighbours on the street have also offered help.”

A FundmeTnT account was also opened on Thursday which, as of Friday afternoon, stands at almost $62,000. In a Facebook broadcast on Thursday, Fabien said he was leaving it open to donations for work he would like to do for the station.

“Allyuh have shares now, you have to understand that. Whatever is given is being graciously received in the name of the most high God. I don’t know how again to say thanks, but I commit to continue to be of service to this country and this region and all the people I could be of service to.”

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"Thankful Fabien goes back home"

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