MARTHA BRAE, Trelawny

With just four days to go before the start of the new academic year Charlton Maragh, 42, has no idea how he will send his children to school.

The family lost their entire belongings last Friday night when fire gutted their nine-apartment house in Zion, in this rural community.

The children Chantelle, 8, Kadine, 11, Shavaun, 7 and Corretta, 13 are now staying with their aunt Angella Burley in Falmouth. Another two adult members of the family also lost their belongings. Maragh said the cause of the fire has not been ascertained.

Meanwhile Burley is busy trying to get assistance for the children as she said they were unable to save anything from the fire. “They lost everything,” she explained. “Nutten nuh left.”

To make matters worse neither Burley nor Maragh have steady jobs.

“The father out of a job and I am presently not working,” she told the Observer West.

The children have received some assistance from two Falmouth business people but Burley says much more is needed. “They need shoes, bags, uniform and books,” she explained.

The family is asking for any assistance they can get to ensure that all four children are able to start school on Monday. To offer assistance interested persons can call Burley at 449-7801.