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Richard Barclay had plans to serve as best as he could in the Jamaica Constabulary Force, which he joined in 1989. He spent 10 years serving wholeheartedly until he met with an accident that caused him to end up in a wheelchair.

Two weeks ago, July 17, marked 30 years since Barclay has been in the force. He has spent 21 of those years in a wheelchair.

"I spent most of the time in wheelchair but I still serve," he said.

Barclay remembers vividly the day he got hurt.

"On the 12th of April 1998, I was going to a church service in Portland. I met in a motor vehicle accident, me and the sergeant. He was the one driving the vehicle when it overturned. I sustain injury to the T-10 and the T-11 vertebrae. I was taken to the Port Antonio Hospital and transported to KPH. I received a surgery and was taken to the Mona Rehab to do physical therapy. I left there to the Burke Rehab hospital in New York," he said.

Even though things seemed to be going well, Barclay had to return home because his medical bills were not being paid.

"I was doing well, walked with crutches and all. Because of the lack of funding by the Government, I had to leave and come back home. Nuh care how me call them, there is no assistance. Sometimes when I go there (therapy), all three-quarter of the one hour I get, they have me there asking how they will get their money. I call the ministry, I called the Federation and commissioner, no help," he said.

He returned to Jamaica in February 1999, not being able to walk. He said that it was not until September that year, that he received a call from the Ministry of National Security that they would be making payment to the hospital.

MONEY ISSUES

"I couldn't take those embarrassments. Even the taxi man weh a carry me to the therapy, I owed him and I had to come home because it embarrassing. Can you imagine have a one-hour therapy session and three-quarters of it they take to ask you how they are going to get paid?" he said.

Two years after his return, he requested to be reinstated.

Prior to the incident, Barclay was stationed in Portland. However, when he returned to the force, he was transferred to Seaforth, St Thomas, where he could be closer to his home. He said that he resumed regular duties, and in 2005, he was transferred to the Criminal Investigative Branch, where he has been since.

He said that being in a wheelchair does not affect his job, but he has not given up hope of walking again.

"I believe that I can walk again if I get the assistance and do therapy. I try to practise at home because I have a walker, but I have spasms. I am trying to get a remote wheelchair. I have to keep pushing this manual one now, but by you push them, they start to mash up," he said.

Anyone who is interested in helping Corporal Richard Barclay may call him at 876-416-4683.