SOME of the homeless people in and around National Heroes’ Park in Kingston have decried the cruel treatment they regularly receive from the public, including children.

Their concerns followed the recent murder of one of their own who was set on fire in the area.

Lionel Johnson, elderly and homeless, died at hospital last Monday from complications after being severely burned. The agonising ordeal — while he was on fire in the vicinity of Heroes’ Park — was captured on video, which has been making the rounds on social media. Johnson’s death sparked public outcry, even from Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Desmond McKenzie, who last week offered a $500,000 reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators. The minister also called on Jamaicans to desist from harming the homeless.

Kemar Powell, a homeless man who spends a lot of time hanging out in the vicinity of Heroes’ Park, told the Jamaica Observer that people like him live on edge on a daily basis. He shared that something as simple as taking a nap can turn out deadly for people like him.

“Me live pon di streets around three to four years now and mi waa come off di road. A nuff things a gwaan out yah. A pure stoning a gwaan. You have some rude bwoy weh nuh under no control suh mi affi watch myself. When mi waa sleep, mi affi hide and sleep. Me not even remember mi age to how pressure deh pon mi,” Powell said.

Another man who did not give his name, declared that, “a pure wicked deh bout”.

“A better you find a yard or a church fi sleep and not even deh suh nuh safe. A man will know seh mi a sleep and plan fi mi. When yaw sleep is like you dead inuh. Nuh care how bad you is, when your eye shut is a different thing. Road nuh sweet inuh.”

Adeniki Young, who helps to supervise The Good Samaritan Inn near Heroes’ Park, said that a cameras at a gas station nearby captured what appeared to be children draining gas from a gas pump into a bottle shortly before Johnson was set on fire.

“I help to feed the homeless and I pass and see him sometimes. I describe the incident as a brutal act. For children to do something like that is wicked and cruel. Where are their parents? The parents should be held accountable for their actions. Those children you would say, are growing up to become criminals. They need counselling or to be put in a children’s home.

“Weren’t they thinking that the person can die? I guess the Government needs to do something more to get the homeless people off the streets because there is no protection for them. This incident is not the first of its kind. People dump big stones in their heads and cut their throats. That was an elderly person who could be my grandfather. Imagine a person throw gas on you and lights you. That’s wicked, terrible and excruciating to be walking with fire on your body.”

Manager of The Good Samaritan, Vermont Murray, told the Observer that news of the incident, broke his heart.

“We are disturbed to see that this is what our beloved country in this the 60th year of Independence, that this is the level of depravity that we have descended to. It grieves my heart, but I hope all well thinking Jamaicans will come out and not only speak out against it but ensure our homeless are well taken care of.”