Gov’t to assist with funeral expenses of slain Clarendon family
Government will assist with the funeral expenses of the mother and four children murdered in Cocoa Piece, Clarendon earlier this week.
Robert Nesta Morgan, the minister with responsibility for information, made the revelation on Thursday.
Noting that “the highest level of government” is committed to helping the grieving family, Morgan said: “I’ve spoken to the prime minister and he has pledged that the government will be helping with the funeral expenses.”
READ: SAVAGERY! Brutal murder of Clarendon family triggers fainting spells among Beulah All-Age students
Morgan, who is also the Member of Parliament for Clarendon North Central, the constituency in which the gruesome murder occurred, added that “Several funeral homes in the constituency have also approached me to say they’d be willing to assist with funeral expenses and I’ll be personally helping to deal with the various events that are surrounding this, including trying to get some more counselling (for those affected).”
Kemisha Wright, 31, from Cocoa Piece in the parish and her four children, Kimana Smith, 15; Shemari Smith, 10; Kafana Smith, five; and 23-month-old baby boy Kishaun Henry, were found with their throats slashed Tuesday morning.
Morgan said the late mother was ‘dear to his heart’ and was one of his supporters.
“It’s such a great tragedy, such a painful tragedy, not just to lose a constituent but to lose somebody that I knew, a family that I knew, a family that I’ve spoken to on so many occasions,” he said.
He also said he has secured support from Minister of National Security, Horace Chang and Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports, Olivia Grange.
“We are (going to) help this family, we are going to help the children. I think it is our duty to do it, we are (going to) do everything in our power to assist,” he insisted.
The incident triggered shockwaves across the island.
There were also reports of fainting spells among students at Beulah All-Age School in Clarendon, where two of the slain children attended.
Rushane Barnett, 23, otherwise called ‘Jett’ or ‘Nick’, was named as a person of interest and was arrested in Trelawny on Tuesday.