FERRIS DISTRICT, Westmoreland – A former special constable whose Westmoreland home was gutted by fire last year is to receive a new home, courtesy of the Association of the Jamaica Special Constabulary Force (JSCF).

The Association made its first donation of $56,000 to Lanceford Parkinson of Ferris in Westmoreland, earlier this week. The donation, which is the first of a number that are to be made over the next few months, was made on Tuesday after a team of Association members visited Parkinson’s former home.

Last November, the three-bedroom home went up in flames shortly after Parkinson saw smoke coming from a back room. He fled and the structure was soon completely engulfed.

“I had the intention to go back inside but everything burn up. I didn’t save a thing,” he said.

The house had contained his furniture and appliances, as well as items that belonged to one of his daughters. The damage was placed at $120,000.

Since the fire, he has been living next door, with another of his daughters. Following Tuesday’s donation, he is optimistic that within another two months he will be able to once again live under his own roof.

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hairman for the JSCF, Inspector Daniel Williams, said the welfare of current and former policemen was one of the organisation’s priorities. The funds supplied to Parkinson, he said, had been raised through salary deductions from association members islandwide. Additional donations, he said, would be made as needed.

Tuesday’s $56,000 donation will go towards the purchase of material to start the rebuilding of Parkinson’s home. One company from the community, Big M Hardware Ltd, has offered to give him a huge discount on material.