Carlene Butler, whose house was set ablaze by alleged arsonists. - Noel Thompson

WESTERN BUREAU:

After a fire ravaged her five-bedroom house in Lilliput, St James, a single mother of five is now homeless and despondent, as she does not believe she will be able to send her children to school in September.

About 8:30 p.m. on August 2, Carlene Butler's house went up in smoke.

Although eight firemen arrived on the scene to put out the fire, they were unable to salvage anything - everything in the house was destroyed. While the St James Fire Brigade is investigating, Butler is convinced it was arson.

"Nothing, nothing me nuh get from nobody, is 10 days now and I don't get nothing," she continued, lamenting that no one has offered her any form of assistance.

Her children, aged eight, nine, 12, 16 and 19, are staying with her sister in St Ann, where they have been since the beginning of the holiday. But they are to return to Montego Bay on August 25, as her sister cannot manage to keep them much longer.

With a blank stare, the 34-year-old mother told THE STAR she thinks the four younger children, who are now attending primary school and high school, will not be able to attend school until at least October, as she seeks a place to live and find a way to replace their uniforms and buy new school gear.

Since the incident, Butler has been moving from house to house staying with relatives and friends.

Butler explained that she is presently unemployed and that she is not receiving assistance from the children's father.

"I'll do anything now. Anything I get, I'll take it," she said. "I am asking for shelter, clothing, monetary assistance, food, household items and housing materials."

Persons interested in helping Butler can contact her at 847-8534.