The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

MORE than two months after a fire devastated an inner city community claiming the lives of six relatives, including a toddler, loved ones gathered to pay their final respects on Saturday.

While several family members have raised concern on whether the incident was the result of arson, authorities have yet to give any answers about the cause of the fire at Homestead Street on Monday September 23.

Shortly before 2am,

a blaze started at the small four-room structure that the family shared. When officials did make their way inside the house, the victims were all found in what authorities believed to be the bathroom of the home. Neighbours reported that they attempted to save them, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

Police spokesman Superintendent Stephen Dean has told The Tribune that investigations are continuing. Back in October he told this newspaper that in order for police to complete their work the results of a DNA analysis for each of the victims, among other things, was needed. At the time he said the analysis could take weeks.

Before that statement, a police source said investigators blamed an electrical shortage. Now well into December and as the Christmas holiday approaches police continued to deny that it was arson. The Tribune has asked several RBPF officials of the progress in the case on numerous occasions, but there has been little said on the part of authorities.

The victims, for whom a memorial service was held at Evangelistic Temple, Collins Avenue, are two-year-old Jo’ashonique King, Jennifer Bissaint, 22, Marilyn Barrett-Palmer, 15-year-old Travon Grant, Mel-Chizedek Bain and Unissa Pratt, 23. Each of them, except  the toddler, was cremated.

Hundreds of people gathered at the church where each of the victims was described as loving, sources of support, and intelligent among other things.

Prime Minister Perry Christie and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin, who is also the Englerston representative where the victims lived, spoke during the services.