‘A long time him wicked’

Hours after a public throw-down between an uncle and nephew on National Heroes Day, a house which they occupy, along with other members of their family in Stony Hill, St Andrew, was set ablaze.

The incident occurred shortly after 8 p.m. on Monday.

Only a shell of the near four-bedroom dwelling stood on Brooks Level Road when The Gleaner visited the location yesterday.

Some of the victims were conducting cleaning and clearing of debris.

The Gleaner was told that substantial repairs were recently conducted at the home.

The uncle, who relatives are convinced is responsible for the senseless act, had not been seen or heard from since the incident.

The Stony Hill police say he can assist with the probe.

He was reportedly spotted running from the dwelling before thick fumes of smoke began emitting from the roof.

The Gleaner understands that about seven people, including the suspect’s elderly and sickly mother along with an eight-month-old child, reside at the location.

They had to be rescued from the home during the blaze.

A resident told The Gleaner that the victims would no doubt have bad memories on future Heroes Days.

“Dem put dung big fight in the road. People were trying to part them. The nephew lick him with a board and him grab him up and dem roll on the ground. One bag ah excitement inna the day… . So him (uncle) say publicly if him can’t live there, the nephew can’t live there. It nuh look good. Him tek it too far,” a family friend told The Gleaner.

The Gleaner understands the two have been having a longstanding dispute.

The fire reportedly began in a section of the dwelling occupied by the uncle who, up to press time, remained at large.

His brother, Donovan Fennel, told The Gleaner that his sibling was wicked.

“You know say a long time him wicked. Him always a try war mi and the whole of his family dem. A him mother him want (profanity) kill. Him mother now homeless and all baby did inna the house. The yard done for, everywhere bun out, you see,” Fennel said, as he moved back and forth clearing debris.

Another relative, though angry, took solace in the fact that the incident occurred while everyone was awake.

“The best thing is that nobody was sleeping because, if him did ever think to do it when the shop closed or when they in dem deep sleep, a problem,” a nephew of the prime suspect said.

The residents said the individual managed to elude residents who made after him Monday night.

As though the fire was not frustrating enough for victims and residents, the Stony Hill Fire Station was on the receiving end of the ire of onlookers at the scene after the fire truck ran out of water.

“This embarrassing. Look how near the (Stony Hill) fire station is. Just call it next door. The truck only had a quarter of the capacity it can hold. The firemen themselves looked helpless. As dem reach the water done. The hydrant a waste water in front of them and they can’t use the water. Dem a say the truck affi full at another hydrant,” one irate resident told The Gleaner.

Assistance was sought from the Half-Way Tree Fire Station.

The Stony Hill police and the Jamaica Fire Brigade said the incident remained under investigation.

Juliet Cuthbert Flynn, member of parliament for West Rural St Andrew, visited the victims on Tuesday.

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com