‘Schizophrenic nephew set my house on fire’

A woman is blaming her nephew, who she said is schizophrenic, for burning down her home.

According to Cochita Hines, her son was asleep when he was awakened by the heat and had to jump to safety through a window before calling her attention to the burning building.

"Him (her son) come home from work and take off him ganzie and lie down pan him carpet a sleep. When the fire start drop pan him, him affi jump through the window and a so him run come and call me," she said.

Hines told THE STAR that she was painting her stones when she got the alarm. She said she rushed to the house fearing that her nephew Jahi was in the room where the fire was said to have started.

"When him call mi and mi a run come, mi a bawl out 'Jahi, Jahi', no Jahi. So mi and mi son a try lick down the door. It open slightly and mi peep inside and see the bed on fire but we did affi step back out because the fire a spread so fast," she said.

Hines said that over the years, she learnt that her nephew was schizophrenic and she has even tried to administer his medication but he refuses to take it.

She said that last Thursday, he washed and left the house for a short time.

"My son saw him inna Half-Way Tree and seh him can't leave him there, enuh, and a so him reach here. When mi really see seh the house gone all mi could a do a hol mi head and seh Jahi bun down mi house," an angry Hines said.

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The Papine police have confirmed that a report was made.

"When mi go up a the station to make the report, mi see him lay down pan a stone and a relax. When him see mi, him seh: 'Aunty, mi sorry. Mi never know seh the ol house a go bun dung'," she said.

Four persons occupied the family house, including 31-year-old Bonito White, who was at work at the time of the fire.

"I have been here from mi born and mi start work from 2004. Mi buy up mi likkle things dem over the years but the only thing that I got to save was the clothes that I wore to work that day," he said. "I had bed, dresser, camera, money, TV, printer and more things."

Hines said that since the incident, she made attempts to get help from political representatives but has been unsuccessful.

She said that she is in need of some help from the public to get herself back on track because of this tragic event.

Up to press time, the Corporate Communications Unit could not confirm whether Jahi was transported to the Bellevue Hospital for treatment.

Anyone who is interested to help Hines get back on track, may contact her at 876-865-9619.