Back-to-school setback for Southside children

Having done the bulk of their back-to-school shopping, several families in Central Kingston have been left in a state of bewilderment following a massive fire in their community on Thursday.

Approximately 50 persons, 21 of them children, were left homeless after hoodlums torched four premises on Rum Lane and Rosemary Lane in the Southside area of the community. Deputy Superintendent of Police Eucal Francis, crime officer for Kingston Central, said the fire is believed to have been started about 3:30 a.m. by the arsonists.

Chantia Foster, a distraught fire victim, bemoaned the impact of the blaze on her children.

"Me have three kids, one [going to] basic [school], one [in] primary [school, who] will be doing PEP, and one 10 in grade. Mi buy everything. Dem get everything from a pin to a anchor. Bags, books, shoes, everything bun up," said Foster, an ancillary worker at a high school.

"School is around the corner. It a guh very hard 'cause it was so hard to purchase them [school supplies] and to just think about rebuying is stressful. These things only cause people to get angry and do things they don't want to do, but right now all we are asking for is help," she added.

One mother at Rosemary Lane could not hold back the tears as she stared at burnt books, furniture and personal belongings that have been ravaged by the fire. She said that it was difficult to know that after finally putting several things in place, she now has to rely on others.

"It mek you feel less fortunate; everybody have it hard. We worked hard and to depend on somebody else mek me feel down," said the woman.

Over on Rum Lane, there were similar scenes. Families of mostly women and children lined the side of the road near their burnt-out homes. They also stared helplessly at the ruined notebooks and textbooks, some of which were bought for the new term. Tasha-Kay Patrick is one of 32 residents who are now displaced, 13 of whom are schoolchildren.

"A mostly women and pickney live yah. Them start the fire from the front, so we did focused on getting out 'cause everything start ketch. Two babies under two months deh here so nobody nuh save nothing," Patrick said.

But for Celine Williams, who was writing down all the names of those residents who have been affected, she was simply grateful to be alive.

"Mi just have to thank God seh we nuh dead, wi kids nuh dead and none a wi family member dem nuh dead," said Williams.