COMMENTS FROM OUR SELLERS

Bernadette Johnson-Webb, AKA Berns

Location: Kingstown

Bernadette Johnson-Webb, known more popularly as Berns, has been selling the Searchlight Newspaper for as long as the paper has been in circulation.

“I feel bad for me customer and them, but me can’t do nothing about that. I feel bad; 31 years since I with Searchlight. Since they open I with them.

In the past 31 years it was very good and I thank God for them, so, whatever happen now I have to live with it.

Berns has fond memories too about her interaction with the first Editor, Norma Keizer:

“The relationship with me and Mrs. Keizer was very good. She never had any problems with me about paying or nothing, and I use to sell the most paper.

It was good, I enjoyed the years with them [Searchlight], and I wish them all the best. Still, I feel some customers will miss the paper. I done tell them Friday [September 25] is the last.

Rocina Browne, Location Kingstown

I cannot recall the exact number of years she has been selling SEARCHLIGHT, but knows it’s over 20 years. With the sale of newspapers being her main source of bread, the elderly diabetic woman, who is still in recovery mode following eye surgery, accepts that the paper will no longer be around but acknowledges it will create an income deficit.

“Over the years selling Searchlight was good, but now it closing, I feel a kind-a-how. It go slow me down because is the paper I does depend on sometimes-help me pay me bills and so forth. Is that I was depending on because I don’t have nothing else doing right now. Since the surgery I did hold off, but I make sure when is Friday time I go an sell me paper, the paper still was helping me. Now it closing down but- way I go do? Can’t do nothing you know, its life, but it was good, enjoyable, everything.

Andrew Crichton, Location: Georgetown

“I’ve been selling Searchlight for about 20 years now in Georgetown, but coming down to the last years there the sales drop down. Even though me got News and Vincentian, some people still look forward to two papers so Searchlight, if it’s not there people go miss it.

Searchlight use to always sell and people look forward to the paper. I enjoy selling the paper over the years. Sometimes it’s a bit challenging. If the paper late me no sell them off, because me does done sell early on Saturday morning, so that does be the only drawback. Looking back over the years, it was a fun for me to sell the papers. People look forward to me to get their paper every week…and some people been a wonder way they going do.”

Toney’s Mini Mart Proprietor Sydney Toney

Location: Calliaqua:

For over two decades readers would collect a copy of Searchlight from Toney’s Mini Mart at Calliaqua.

Proprietor, Sydney Toney will specifically miss the quality editorials, and ‘Eye of the Needle”, a column previously done by Renwick Rose (deceased), who taught Toney at Bishop’s College, Kingstown.

Toney also appreciates the efficiency involved in the distribution of Searchlight:

“They were always first, and regular. They send the same person every week to bring the newspaper, and that paper comes on time- early. And then the same person will come back the next week and find out how much is sold and they would take back the unsold ones immediately. I just had to pay for the previous week so I didn’t have to go back to the office to take back any papers and so on; and there wasn’t any mix-up, so I was always happy with Searchlight on that.

The editorials from Searchlight too, I think were more professional. I respected Searchlight a lot, both for its message and the professional way in which they distribute. So, I will really miss Searchlight for those reasons.”