ALMOST two years after their houses went up in flames in a fire believed to be set by arsonists, several residents on Rum Lane in Central Kingston claim that they are still awaiting the promised help to rebuild.

In the immediate aftermath of the fire, which destroyed houses at 33, 33 1/4 and 33 1/2 Rum Lane, seven families, totalling approximately 30 people including children, were left homeless, representatives of Government and private entities visited that area and declared their commitment to help the residents get back on their feet.

But when the Jamaica Observer visited the area on Monday, some of the victims declared that they were living in limbo.

One of the victims, Moesha Marsh, claimed her family, and others, have received no help since the blaze,

“The people who lived on the land are now scattered all over the place, but me, my babyfather, my children, my mother-in-law, brother-in-law, and his babymother, with their two kids still live here at 33 1/2 Rum Lane. We built up a board house and we did it out of our pockets just to have a little roof over our heads,” said Marsh.

“I have two children, the baby who is two years old today, and my son who is going to be five years old later this year. Most of the other people who lived here and were burned out have turned squatters on other people’s property in the community because they have nowhere to go,” added Marsh.

She claimed that unlike others, she had no option but to find a way to construct a wooden dwelling which is not ideal but better than living outside with her family and exposed to the elements of weather.

“Life is rough, rough, rough. I lost my test glasses in the fire, furniture, children’s clothes and uniform. I don’t have anything,” said Marsh as she told the Observer that with her glasses destroyed in the fire, she has struggled to see properly for almost two years.

In the meantime the father of Marsh’s two children, who asked not to be named, said while their living condition was not perfect before the fire, it was far better than today.

“It is kind of hard for me. Before, life was better. Everybody was here. My mother moved out not too far from here. She is staying with relatives. Last hurricane season rain came in on us and we are in another hurricane season. Our house top is still leaking. We got no help other than the little documents for the children like their birth certificates,” claimed the man.

Another resident pointed out that Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness visited them in the wake of the fire and promised that people who were displaced would receive assistance.

She alleged that to date they have received little assistance to help them get back on their feet.

“The prime minister and his team came down here but all they gave the people were some daytime pull-up beds. The people didn’t get any board or anything to build back their houses,” the woman claimed.

But Member of Parliament for the area Donovan Williams on Wednesday told the Observer that while representatives of State agencies visited that area and did an assessment after the fire, people who said they are legal owners posted a no trespassing sign.

“We cleared the debris among other measures and provided first response aid. We assisted as far as we could and are amendable to exploring further ways in which we may assist despite the challenges,” said Williams.

According to Williams, the Housing Agency of Jamaica, (HAJ) has identified properties in the community to assist with social housing and the plan is to assist the Rum Lane fire victims as priority.

In the meantime residents of the area pointed out that national netballer Latanya Wilson, who was one of the victims of the fire, had been promised help and based on media reports, it appears this was delivered.

Weeks after the blaze Jamaica Information Service (JIS) reported that Wilson had been given the keys and documents for a new house outside of the community.

The JIS report said construction of the house for Wilson was facilitated by the National Housing Trust.

Wilson had told the Observer that she lost almost everything in the blaze, including a bronze medal she won with the Sunshine Girls at the Netball World Cup tournament in August 2023.

“I have several different emotions. I am sad but I am more so grateful that I still have life. It is always a privilege to represent my country, myself, and my family. The joy from that is unexplainable. This just goes to show that you can be at your highest point in life and the next moment you are at your lowest,” Wilson told the Observer at the time.