Family yet to recover after Christmas Eve fire
Last Christmas Eve, Christine Richards cleaned her dwelling and was preparing to have a memorable Christmas Day with her family.
The Harmony Hall, St Mary, woman said she had taken her two younger children to visit their father and stopped at a nearby bar to have a drink with her friends. Her merriment would soon turn into sorrow as she was soon informed that her house was engulfed in flames.
“My friend told me that she see fire and it look like my house on fire, so mi run go down there and my room had already been destroyed. I run back out and cry for help but by the time dem come, the other house which is mi madda four-bedroom house burn down too. We lose everything. It was the worst day of my life,” she said.
Seven persons were displaced in the fire. Richards said she instantly fell into a state of depression and even fainted after watching her life savings going up into flames. All the Christmas gifts and cash that she had was destroyed.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
“Mi bawl until mi drop dung the night. Mi inna shock, mi just couldn’t believe. I have high blood pressure so it affect mi. The night mi cousin tell mi to come stay with har and the way mi stress is under a woman cellar mi sleep. Fi about five nights mi sleep under a cellar because mi did just wah be by myself the way mi stress. Mi just don’t know how the fire start because nothing never leave plug in. In fact there was no electricity around my side and is my room start burn first,” she said.
The 43-year-old mother of seven said that five of them are staying with other persons, but she and her two youngest children are staying with a Good Samaritan. While grateful, she would love to have a roof over her head. She said that she has received help from persons like Dr Corretta Mathie, founder of the Improve a Life Initiative which is based in Florida.
“My cousin helped me out with some block so I got to start the foundation. I am not working at the moment so I am asking for a little assistance to complete even a room. I am not the type to beg although we are poor. But I realise that I cannot do it on my own. I am thankful for Dr Mathie and her team for all that they have been doing also,” she said. Mathie said they learned of
Richards’ situation from someone in England.
“Myself and [ philanthropist] Kaniel Cole went and assessed the situation and I am in touch with the RGD [Registrar General’s Department] regarding birth certificates and I’m awaiting the cost. We are trying to get them a home to bring the family back together and to provide clothes and furniture. Even though they are not rich they never begged and it is because of the fire why they are in need now,” she said.