Former Minister starts charity to rebuild parents' house

Former government minister Othneil Lawrence has been urging persons to support the rebuilding exercise of his parents house by purchasing tickets for the inaugural staging of Smokin' Tyerz.

His parents' house, which along with its content was valued at $30 million, was destroyed by an early-morning fire on February 12.

Lawrence's parents, Oscar and Carmelita Lawrence, are both respected citizens in the Runaway Bay area. Both have been recipients of the Governor General's Award, with his dad having served the fire service for 40 years. His mother was an educator for close to 40 years.

Lawrence, who served as member of parliament for North West St Ann from 2007 to 2011, has since launched the Smokin' Tyerz charity which aims to raise funds for worthy causes in St Ann.

"It's going to be an annual charity to raise funds, but this one is for my parents' house that was burnt earlier this year," Lawrence, a former junior works minister, told THE STAR.

"We are earmarking between $3 million to $4.5 million from this which would not be enough, but it's a start. Nobody's going to take up $4 million and give you so we have to try and raise it."

Smokin' Tyerz will take place on Sunday, June 3, at the Salem taxi stand in Runaway Bay. Lawrence said that the event, which is sponsored by Liquid Nitro and endorsed by the Jamaica Race Drivers Club, has received endorsement from the St Ann Municipal Corporation and the Jamaica Constabulary Force in the parish.

The event, which is scheduled to begin at 12 noon, has attracted big names in the local motor racing industry such as Doug 'Hollywood' Gore, King David Summerbell Jr, Nicholas Barnes and others, and will feature car and bike stunts.

"It is more than just bike and car stunts, it will be packed with other activities as well," Lawrence said, adding that there will autograph sessions with Gore and Summerbell, as well as a kiddies' village.