ST ANN, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness has expressed sorrow and outrage following the tragic fire in St Ann that claimed the lives of three young children.

The prime minister lamented what he described as the preventable nature of the tragedy.

“It is absolutely heartbreaking to lose three innocent lives in such a preventable manner. Every Jamaican child deserves to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment, and this incident brings into question the gaps in vigilance and responsible parenting we face as a nation. While we understand the demand economic demands placed on parents, particularly single-parent households, there can be no excuse for leaving children unattended or with little or no supervision, particularly in cases which could not be considered an emergency,” Holness argued.

Holness is now calling on the nation’s parents to “do more to ensure our children are cared for and protected at all times”.

“That is not a responsibility any parent can transfer to another lightly,” he contended, adding that the incident is to be investigated thoroughly.

“In light of this recent tragedy, the government strongly reminds parents and guardians of their moral duty to their children and their legal responsibilities under the Child Care and Protection Act.”

The three victims were at home with their grandmother and another child when the fire started.

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Holness also cited the issue of energy poverty which often contributes to fires.

“While this most recent event is not attributed to open flames, the government is committed to addressing energy poverty and ensuring that all Jamaicans have access to safe, regularised and affordable electricity to meet their basic living needs,” Holness said