Belrock to rise again after fire

Dorothy Nugent is hoping that she will benefit from one of the one-bedroom units - complete with a bathroom and a kitchen - that will be constructed in Belrock, off Olympic Way in St Andrew, for fire victims who lost their homes in 2018.

The 53-year-old woman was left homeless after arsonists burnt dwellings in the West Central St Andrew community for which Prime Minister Andrew Holness is the member of parliament.

In November 2018, fire destroyed the dwellings after armed men fired shots in the area and then set fire to a house, which spread to neighbouring homes. At least 30 persons were affected.

Nugent said that she had to stay with relatives for about two months due to the displacement.

"Mi house did set up nice but we just have to watch everything go up in flames. A some pallet me and mi partner used and build back a house. A bare hole and pitch patch in it, and when rain fall we have to bucket out water throw weh," Nugent told THE STAR yesterday.

The Belrock resident said that although it has been almost three years since the life-changing fire, she still cries whenever she remembers the ordeal.

"Mi did have everything to mi comfort and now we have to live in a likkle idiat pitch-patch house, but mi still grateful mi have a house over mi head. Sometimes mi sit down and cry when mi see how we a live. Is two second-hand mattress we have, but mi still glad for. The storm come and pass and we still standing, so mi know God good," she added.

housing programme

The Belrock houses are being built under a Government-funded indigent housing programme. Holness, who has been MP since 2002, broke ground for the construction of the houses last Friday. The units will be equipped with tanks to facilitate rainwater harvesting for the homeowners.

Desmond McKenzie, minister of Local Government and Rural Development, said the Government is intensifying efforts to deliver 100 indigent houses this financial year. He said the programme will commence in Holness' constituency and then move to South West St. Andrew, which is represented by Dr Angela Brown Burke.

The constituencies of Central Kingston and West Kingston are also slated to benefit from the construction of the houses.

In Belrock, Nugent is hoping that she will be one of the recipients. Anthony Johnson is also awaiting good news about the dwellings. He told THE STAR that at least 10 of his family members were affected by the fire.

"We had to camp outside for about a week. Some of my family had to stay with relatives and mi glad say di neighbours dem did stick wid we, but for mi, when mi a sleep under di tent is like mi have to sleep wid one eye open because mi don't know what can happen next. Is almost three years we a wait fi get some help," he said.

Alrick Benjamin, 26, who occupied one of the Belrock houses with his two children and girlfriend, said he was at work when the fire started that fateful day.

"The board part of the house did burn down, but I tried my best to repair it. But I will be happy with what they will give me," he said.