News

Fire destroys Bethesda Primary

By ARTHUR GREEN, STAR Writer

ST. THOMAS: FIRE ON FRIDAY destroyed the Bethesda Primary School in Llandewey, St. Thomas, leaving over 200 students without a place of learning. The Morant Bay Fire Brigade which responded to the call was not able to save anything.

The community of Llandewey is a hilly district in western St. Thomas with Bull Bay to the west, southwest Halls Delight to the north and Norris to the east.

Residents of the community alleged that the fire was set deliberately, but Fire chief Clarence Samuels said it was too early to determine the cause of the fire. He was quick to add that the Morant Bay unit, which was on location, had reached the scene in quick time following the call they received. Even though there is a station in Yallahs which is nearer, the unit there was not working.

An employee of the school who claims to have witnessed the fire in its early stages, said he noticed smoke coming from behind the building closer to the front of the premises while he was at the rear section of the school. He raised an alarm but said he was disappointed in the length of time it took before any substantial help came his way.

A spokesperson for the school's administration told the STAR that to facilitate some phased re-opening of school today (Monday), grades three, four, and six will be accommodated at the nearby church hall.

The residents meanwhile were adamant that the fire was deliberate, and questioned why someone would want to commit such an act. They said that the destruction of such a vital institution in the community was due to multiple neglect including lack of water, a lame fire service, and inaccessible roads. In the same breath, they called on the authorities to act quickly in fixing all these conditions which they fear are threats to their lives and security.