The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

THE house of a man that was burned down two years ago will be rebuilt in two months, promised Cynthia “Mother” Pratt and Algernon Allen yesterday during their tour of Strachan’s Corner off East Street as part of an Urban Renewal walkabout.

Painting dire images of his living conditions, Ephraim Lyons, 60, of Strachan’s Corner, told Urban Renewal representatives that he “sleeps in a car at night to avoid mosquito bites” and is constantly in and out of employment.

“I lost my house in a fire about two years ago,” he said. “I’m a musician and I lost my instruments in the fire as well so I lost my house and my business.”

He said: “Maybe if the economy was better right now I would have a secure job but right now I does just do whatever little thing come my way but I can’t keep anything stable. All I really want is a job but jobs aren’t available” said Mr Lyons, who has four children, including a 13-year-old daughter living with her mother.”

While comforting Mr Lyons, Former FNM MP Algernon Allen said: “Mother Pratt and I give you our assurance that in two months we will have this rebuilt and if we don’t rebuild this house in two months, you have the right to say we gave you empty promises.”

“When you see a young man that is trying to help himself, we have to go halfway to meet him,” added “Mother” Pratt.

Mr Lyons said: “I feel confident that they will do what they said because I know these two people and they are two of the most powerful people in the country.”

During yesterday’s walkabout, residents also raised concerns with urban renewal representatives about overgrown bushes within Strachan’s Corner which they say facilitates criminal behavior, pointing to the recent shooting death of a young man in the area as an example. The residents said the “bushy” areas act as “hideouts” for criminals and storage places for their weapons.

“We need plenty help with the cleaning down of bushes,” said Rosanna Cash, 40. “Thieves and murderers hide in the bushes and there are plenty empty houses where thieves are loitering.”

“Nothing has ever been done in this area,” she said, adding: “We just had a killing in the shortcut where the bushes are. We also have plenty young boys hanging out with guns so you ain’ ever safe.”

Other residents also said Shanrio Deveaux, the 21-year-old man who was killed in Strachan’s Corner on May 25th, might not have died if the bushes which help to hide criminals were cleared.

“We went and cut the bushes ourselves after he got killed” said one resident, adding: “No criminal activity has happened here since.”

In response to the resident’s claims, Mr Allen said: “Some of the bushes have become overgrown but we cleared them before. We have also given heavy equipment to Urban Renewal to deal with such things. We can’t do everything on our own, however. It’s absolutely necessary that the community work with us. We are encouraging street pride and neighborhoods to clean up their own communities. Urban Renewal is educational and transformational.”