Husband of woman killed during Beetham protest looking for job

The husband of Ornella Greaves, the woman who was shot during a Beetham Gardens protest in June, said he needs a job to support his family.

Greaves was using her phone to record the protest when gunshots were fired. Beetham residents blame the police for her death. Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith said his officers were not on the scene at the time of the shooting.

In a brief phone interview with Newsday on Wednesday, Darren Joseph said he would be thankful for any job opportunity that comes his way.

Joseph said he lost his part-time job at the fisheries department nearby when it shut down, making it difficult to support his family. He and his wife had five children.

He said he recently started getting social welfare support and his mother-in-law helps with the children.

“My wife and I used to put everything together and make ends meet.”

Joseph said the family received a food hamper from a church, for which he was grateful.

“It is better than nothing. At the end of the day my children will still eat, but I really want a job. I am not accustomed to people giving me anything. I am accustomed to working.”

He said, on Tuesday night he had to comfort his son who was crying for his mother. Joseph said to lighten the mood, he told him, “Mommy just gone in town to come back.”

He said for their first Christmas without Greaves, he tried to make sure his children had a good time.

“I can’t tell for New Years.”