ST MARY, Jamaica — The Government is searching for a space to accommodate students and staff of the Oracabessa Primary School in St Mary after sections of the building were destroyed in a fire Wednesday night.

“This is so bad for the students, teachers and staff,” Member of Parliament for St Mary Western, Robert Montague lamented in a statement on Thursday.

Some 600 students attend the institution along with 32 members of staff to include academic and ancillary. Reports are that Jamaica Fire Brigade units from St Mary and Ocho Rios responded to the fire at 11:22 pm.

According to Assistant Commissioner, in charge of Area Two, Julian Davis-Buckle, the fire destroyed three board rooms at the rear of the premises, used as the public education (PE) and reading room.

The cause of the fire is not yet known but Davis-Buckle estimated the extent of the lost content at $5 million.

In the meantime, Montague indicated that the Ministry of Education was sorting locations and bus routes so learning could continue “with as little disruption as possible”.

According to Montague, plans had been in motion for major improvements to the schoolroom before the blaze. The MP said just a week earlier at a workers meeting, he had produced a letter of commitment detailing the plans, which included a canteen, staff room, sewage disposal and classrooms.

“The board chairman had already got a letter detailing the improvements that were to be done in 2025. The government would have almost been rebuilding the school, so it is unfortunate.”

“I have had the discussion with the prime minister and he is going to bring that forward— to get things going as quickly as possible once all approvals are made,” he added.

“The whole community and town have suffered a great loss— We are so sorry for this but the children, parents, teachers and staff, will not be left alone in this disaster,” he vowed.

“I am happy, however, that so far, there is no reported loss of life or injury. I give thanks to God for that.”