The root cause of the brawl between the two beggars was cash matters, with one accusing the other of failing to settle him [financially] after the two had agreed to enter financial deal.
Tarnue Kota, 44, accused Quaye Sancon, 50, of being ‘heavily’ indebted to him and refusing to pay. According to Tarnue, this has been going for at least one week now. He said he remained faithful in his reminders to Quaye about his money.
Speaking to the Daily Observer minutes after they were pulled apart by passers-by, Tarnue, who had successfully managed to punch his adversary in the face numerous times, recalled that about a week ago, he was approached by Quaye in the West Point Community; pleading that he (Quaye) needed a child to guide him during his routine begging expeditions along the streets of Monrovia.
As visual impaired beggars, Tarnue said, they are in constant need of a child to help lead their way from street to street, store to store, office to office, only to mention a few.
Tarnue is a father of eight children. He said,“These children are of great help to us,” he said. “Since they can see and we cannot, they lead us where we want to go daily.”
In response to Quaye’s plea, Tarnue contacted a friend of his, who immediately responded by presenting his six year-old son. The deal then was that the child and Tarnue be paid an unspecified amount at the close of each day’s activity.
However, Quaye, according to Tarnue failed to honor his side of the deal.
“This brother continues to collect so much money but has refused to pay my money. Though we didn’t agree on a specific amount, I at least expected something by the end of the day,” Tarnue said.
“I cannot charge this man because he is my brother,” he said. “All I told him was to give me small thing every day which he agreed to.”
Tarnue added though he was not given any money, as agreed upon, at least LRD$190.00 was given daily to the little child as his daily pay.
“This man will not carry this little boy,” Quaye said as Tarnue attempted to take the little from him (Qauye). “If he does, then let me die.”
And as Tarnue insisted on pulling the child away from Quaye, another around of intense scuffle ensued between the two.
For his part, Quaye admitted to all that Tarnue alleged against him, but said he felt more financially obligated to the child then Tarune, who was only a negotiator.
“It is true that I have not given a dime to this man,” Quaye said. “This is because I feel that the little child comes first.”
“If it is sunny, I make LRD$800 to 900,” he said. “If it is rainy, I make LRD$300 to 500.”
