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9 homes razed in Southside
'How much more we can take?' one resident criesKARYL WALKER, Crime/Court co-ordinator walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
A firefighter does the final cooling down on a tenement which was gutted by fire yesterday. The fire destroyed nine homes in the yard at the intersection of Barry and Higholborn streets in downtown Kingston. (Photo: Michael Gordon)
Four year-old Annette appeared unaware of the magnitude of the destruction around her.
The little girl, still wearing her school uniform, sat on a wash basin stuffed with clothes her mother managed to save from the fire that had just destroyed their home, and started doing her homework.
Around her, adults frantically tried to salvage their belongings as firefighters doused smouldering boards that, up to mid-day yesterday, formed homes in a tenement at the intersection of Barry and Higholborn streets in downtown Kingston.
The board apartment that Annette and her mother called home was one of nine that were completely destroyed by the blaze shortly after 1:00 pm.
The community, known as Southside, has been under siege in recent weeks as rival gangs target each other's relatives.
"First the man dem from over that side a kill we off, now the fire come burn out everything me and mi pickney dem own. How much more we can take?" a woman who gave her name only as 'Niceness', told the Observer.
The valiant efforts of firefighters were not enough to save most of the items inside the houses as the fire ate away at the wooden structures and destroyed them in less than half-an-hour, residents said.
"The fireman dem come in about 10 to 15 minutes. Dem try still, but the fire just race through the building like it a paper," one resident said.
Most of the occupants have lost all their belongings, and one wondered aloud where to turn.
"Big people and pickney only lef with the clothes pan dem back. It rough pan we inna the gulf," the woman said as tears streamed down her face.
People's National Party member of parliament for Central Kingston, Ronald Thwaites, was on the scene early and collected the names of the displaced residents and promised to seek assistance.
"I will be seeking the help of the various agencies to assist these unfortunate residents," Thwaites told the Observer. "These houses were originally built by Food For The Poor and I am hoping that they will assist the residents again."
Southside is a traditional Jamaica Labour Party voting block and some residents took the opportunity to criticise Thwaites.
"Mr Thwaites, how come when the man dem from Tel Aviv come and a kill we off we no see you, but as the fire bun you reach?" one woman asked.
"I am here to help the residents and if they want me to leave I will be happy to go," Thwaites replied.
"No, you can stay," the woman replied.
'How much more we can take?' one resident criesKARYL WALKER, Crime/Court co-ordinator walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
A firefighter does the final cooling down on a tenement which was gutted by fire yesterday. The fire destroyed nine homes in the yard at the intersection of Barry and Higholborn streets in downtown Kingston. (Photo: Michael Gordon)Four year-old Annette appeared unaware of the magnitude of the destruction around her.
The little girl, still wearing her school uniform, sat on a wash basin stuffed with clothes her mother managed to save from the fire that had just destroyed their home, and started doing her homework.
Around her, adults frantically tried to salvage their belongings as firefighters doused smouldering boards that, up to mid-day yesterday, formed homes in a tenement at the intersection of Barry and Higholborn streets in downtown Kingston.
The board apartment that Annette and her mother called home was one of nine that were completely destroyed by the blaze shortly after 1:00 pm.
The community, known as Southside, has been under siege in recent weeks as rival gangs target each other's relatives.
"First the man dem from over that side a kill we off, now the fire come burn out everything me and mi pickney dem own. How much more we can take?" a woman who gave her name only as 'Niceness', told the Observer.
The valiant efforts of firefighters were not enough to save most of the items inside the houses as the fire ate away at the wooden structures and destroyed them in less than half-an-hour, residents said.
"The fireman dem come in about 10 to 15 minutes. Dem try still, but the fire just race through the building like it a paper," one resident said.
Most of the occupants have lost all their belongings, and one wondered aloud where to turn.
"Big people and pickney only lef with the clothes pan dem back. It rough pan we inna the gulf," the woman said as tears streamed down her face.
People's National Party member of parliament for Central Kingston, Ronald Thwaites, was on the scene early and collected the names of the displaced residents and promised to seek assistance.
"I will be seeking the help of the various agencies to assist these unfortunate residents," Thwaites told the Observer. "These houses were originally built by Food For The Poor and I am hoping that they will assist the residents again."
Southside is a traditional Jamaica Labour Party voting block and some residents took the opportunity to criticise Thwaites.
"Mr Thwaites, how come when the man dem from Tel Aviv come and a kill we off we no see you, but as the fire bun you reach?" one woman asked.
"I am here to help the residents and if they want me to leave I will be happy to go," Thwaites replied.
"No, you can stay," the woman replied.
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