Jerk-pan vendor hopes to rebuild after fire

As he sat on a chair at THE STAR's North Street office with the last pieces of clothes on his back, Sean Wright could not hold back his tears, as he recounted how he lost almost everything he owns in single day.

"I left my house like three days before the fire, that's after the hurricane. No light was there at the time that I left, so I went to see my son," Wright explained. While at work on July 10, he got a devastating call that his home was on fire.

"I was so surprised. Same time mi rush home and as mi a guh home, all mi a seh to myself is 'this cah real'. But by time mi reach, mi house burn dung and everything gone," Wright said. For the past three years, Wright has been investing in his one-storey, two-bedroom, one-bathroom and one kitchen home in Boone Hall, Stony Hill, St Andrew. Wright, 43, estimated that he lost more than $1 million worth of furniture but his biggest concern is figuring out how to help his 17-and 15-year-old sons who are still in school.

"Right now mi son deh a Excelsior and him a duh really well; him all pass all a him science subjects dem, suh mi really wah fi help him finish school. Mi all did buy a laptop fi surprise him but it burn up in the fire," Wright said as his eyes began to fill with tears.

"More than anything else mi wah fi be able fi help mi kids dem," said Wright, who is a father of four. His older children are in their 20s. Having been displaced since July 10, Wright has been staying at the homes of various friends, and even occasionally with the mother of one of his teen sons. The boys did not live with him in Boone Hall. Wright also told THE STAR that he is currently unable to work because all the meat he had stored in his deep freeze for his jerk pan business is now spoiled.

"Right now mi would appreciate any little help, if a even some clothes, because all mi have a weh yuh see mi inna right now and mi have a sweater too. That is it, mi nuh have nothing else," said Wright. "All if mi could a get a little work suh mi can help mi kids dem and get mi business back up and running, mi would a grateful," Wright said.

Those wishing to assist Sean Wright may contact him at 876-781-9772 or 876-314-3848