Family loses everything in fire weeks after being robbed

A family of seven in Bank district, Clarendon, lost everything following a massive fire early Monday morning.

The house belonged to Ezekiel Buddah, a 61-year-old fisherman and farmer who spent 25 years building the four-bedroom home for himself and his eight children, four of whom live with him, along with his grandsons, ages 15 and eight. Buddah told THE WEEKEND STAR that he was in his bed about 1 a.m. when he heard his son Kemar shout 'Fire' and told him to get out of house. Kemar also had to save Buddah's eight-year-old grandson who was in the house. Buddah is despondent as his life's work went up in smoke.

"Mi feel bad about it, enuh, because sometime mi a tell yuh seh boy, sometime mi feel upset about it. Sometime mi feel seh betta mi dead and done, enuh," he said. Kemar said he was also sleeping when a loud sound woke him. He saw flames and instantly went to grab his nephew and wake his father. He said that all they could do was run out of the house with the clothes on their backs, unable to save anything of value.

Buddah told THE WEEKEND STAR that he believes his house was targeted by thieves trying to destroy evidence after they stole more than $600,000 from his home some weeks ago.

"Mi hear sumi guh 'boom' in a di house, like dem throw in di gas and light it," Kemar said.

COMPLETELY DESTROYED

Acting Superintendent of the May Pen Fire Station Horrett Barnswell said that the fire was so severe that it completely destroyed the home.

"It was a total loss, totally damaged because the roof caved in," Barnswell said. However, he added that the department is currently unable to definitively say what started the fire.

The fire has devastated all members of the family including Buddah's daughter Shanette who was working at the time of the blaze, but came home to her and her son's belongings in ashes.

"Mi feel bad man. Mi even cry when mi see all a my stuff dem bun up and even mi son who almost lose him life, mi father, mi brother," Shanette said. She added that her family will be grateful for any form of help, whether it be clothing, food or items to help both her son and her 15-year-old nephew to go back to school. She said the boys lost all of their books, uniform and shoes.

Currently, all seven members of the family are sleeping in an unfinished house with no running water. The space was loaned to them by a family friend who is overseas.

"A floor wi a sleep pan, wi just get couple mattress, enuh. In a dat room nuh suh hundred, but wi nah nuh weh else fi guh. Is a house weh neva finish yet suh a bay dust and all kinda things," Buddah said.

Persons wishing to assist the family may call Shanette Buddah at 876-799-9682 or her sister Jody Buddah at 876 873-6055. Persons may also make donations to: Shanette Buddah - Jamaica National, Port Antonio branch, acct #2094301694.