Sea Lots fire victims want help to rebuild

Displaced Sea Lots residents yesterday called for help to rebuild their homes and lives. Offers have been made to accommodate them temporarily. Centre for Justice director Harvey Borris told Newsday yesterday he is part of a plan under which displaced families can be temporarily accommodated at one of his guest houses.

“All I need is a call from the MP for the area or the Ministry of Social Development and I will be able to accommodate families for up to three months,” Borris said.

He said his family, which owns guest houses such as La Calypso on French Street, has had an agreement with government since 2014. Borris said he provides accommodation at minimal cost to the government and the arrangement helps displaced fire victims by giving them a roof over their heads while they rebuild their lives. He said they have helped several people since 2014 and was surprised government had not approached him to provide the service again.

“Money is not the issue here. What we really want to do is help people.”

However, the offer was met with mixed responses from the fire victims. Some residents told Newsday yesterday they would prefer material for rebuilding.

“I would rather stay here, fix my house and help myself,” said 49-year-old Carlene Simmons.

“If we take up this offer and we go to this place for the three months, what will happen to us after? We will end up on the streets.”

Newsday met Simmons as she was gathering the few articles of clothing, left behind after her house was gutted along with several others. She said when her house caught fire, she rushed in to gather important documents like her birth certificate.

About 15 families were left homeless after the fire which started at about 6.15 pm on Tuesday.

Several members of the community – most of whom were not victims of the fire – gathered yesterday to help clear the debris and help rebuild the houses. The good Samaritans were collecting the burnt debris in makeshift devices, fashioned out of lengths of wood and old oil barrels cut in half. The debris was taken to a truck which took it for disposal.

The other victims were said to be at the Commission for Self Help collecting paperwork to apply for government assistance.