Fire guts Rae Rae Market again

When Tatum McGilvers' fellow vendors called her phone in the wee hours of Tuesday morning, she instantly figured something was wrong, and she braced herself for bad news.

The messages transmitted over the phone hit her like a ton of bricks. Her place of business at Rae Rae Market was again destroyed by fire.

"A seven fires happen and each time mi lose everything. From mi see dem a call mi so early, mi know say the market a burn again. It really rough on me because a three kids mi have, and them father just died and not even bury as yet. God know, it rough," McGilvers said.

The hapless that stood for a moment to stare at the spot from which she operated her clothes stall.

According to a report from the police's Corporate Communications Unit (CCU), about 3 a.m., the Darling Street police and firefighters responded to a call that the market was on fire. No one was injured in the blaze. However, a number of stalls were destroyed, and dozens of higglers lost their belongings in the massive fire that swept through the West Street-based market. No estimate is yet to be given for the damage.

As other vendors searched through the rubble to secure spared zincs and boards, Debbie Maragh sat with a small group who were discussing their loss. She stated that they have not got a break from the disaster as their belongings have gone up in smoke three times in just over one year.

"Is four stall mi have and seven barrels, and all a that value more than a million dollars. Mi have children a go college and grandkids a take care of, and mi feel it to know say people just burn down the place like that. No matter how it burn down, we nuh get any help - not even a dozen nail, but as we build it back, it burn down again," she said.

LOOKING TO REBUILD

Maragh said giving up is not an option, as once again she will be rebuilding her stalls and is looking forward to selling her wares again.

"Mi would appreciate some help. Mi is not the type to beg anyone but right now mi desperate. It's a whole lot a stuff mi lose before and now is the same thing. Mi never get any help from any government but mi just a beg them to concrete off the ground and give we a shed, and I will sleep here with my goods a night-time. Mi nuh wah lose a next dollar," she said.

THE PREVIOUS FIRE

Last August, the market burnt to the ground and approximately three months later, history, unfortunately, repeated itself. Although the cause of yesterday's fire is yet to be determined, some vendors theorise that it was deliberately set.

Fellow vendors Elaine Dixon, Advira Byfield and Donna Johnson sat on a stall with a desolate look on their faces. Staring at the spot at which she operated business for 46 years, Dixon released several sighs before stating that she does not see the funds to start over.

"Mi heart skip a beat when mi get the phone call say the market on fire, and by the time me reach here, everything already destroyed. Is a whole heap a tings mi sell, from woman, man and children clothing to shoes, and it all gone in a fire within minutes. Mi really hope me can get some help to just get back on mi foot. Mi not strong like one time because mi all sick with mi foot dem so is not like me can go look work anywhere else," she said.