Elderly man loses cookshop in fire

Seventy-three-year-old Easton Sharpe was a picture of despondence as he looked on his cookshop that had been reduced to ashes.

The elderly man's business place was among a few buildings that were ravaged by an early-morning fire last Friday in Frankfield, Clarendon.

District Officer for the Frankfield Fire Station, Glenville Blake, told THE STAR that "we don't know what's the cause yet".

"Presently it's just speculation. We don't have sufficient evidence to even determine the cause; the loss is about J$4 million," he shared.

He noted that his team's prompt response reduced possible greater damage, but added that a wooden section of the building which was quickly engulfed in flames, made the task more difficult.

Sharpe said he got the news via a phone call that the place where he has made his living for 18 years was on fire. He told THE STAR that he lost an estimated J$1 million in equipment and grocery items.

"It affect me bad, because a me livelihood. Me down a me house and them call me say me shop on fire. Me have three fridge in deh and them burn to nothing ... burn to dust. Three big fridge, fully stocked with meat, everything," he lamented.

Compounding the elderly man's grief is the fact that he is still mourning the loss of his wife, who passed last January. His youngest child also died in 2019.

"Me daughter did sick, she was at UWI (University Hospital of the West Indies ) and then she come out and died. My wife now, she never sick. She just sit down in the chair and sleep weh," he bemoaned. Mark Stephenson, Sharpe's friend, said the community was saddened by the incident, particularly the loss suffered by the elderly man.

"We a go do every thing fe help yuh back pan you foot, nuh worry yuh self," he said, as he tried to offer solace to Sharpe. At the same time, Stephenson is appealing to the public to assist Sharpe where possible. "Any help me can get, me would a appreciate it," said Sharpe.

Anyone willing to assist Easton Sharpe may contact him at 876-395-2285.