Residents want to be relocated
Publication: Weekend Nation
Paper Section And Page: 7
Paper Date: Fri, Dec 8, 2000
Byline: by Maria Bradshaw
RESIDENTS living in the congested Greenfields neighbourhood, the City, made another plea for Government to relocate them after two families lost their homes during an afternoon fire.
The fire started in the old Roebuck Street Boys' School in the Moravian Churchyard on Roebuck Street and spread to houses located immediately behind it. The annex on the western side of the church was also slightly damaged. Fire officers were however able to contain the blaze before it reached other homes.
Winston Holford, an employee at the School Meals Department, his wife Allison and their four children and Luther Kirton lost their homes. Residents, however, were able to save the majority of their possessions, while the National Assistance Board has provided temporary housing for the distraught families.
This is the second time in a year that fire has threatened this overcrowded neighbourhood and residents lamented yesterday that it was time to move. They complained that a "paro" had made the old school his home and that he was constantly "piping cocaine and lighting candles in the building".
"We run him out of there several times and told him not to do it, that he would burn the whole neighbourhood. Now look what happen," said an angry Elaine Hazel.
She and other upset residents said it was time that Government stopped ignoring their pleas for a new location.
"We want the people out here moved. We are human beings too. We should not be in this type of environment. The houses are too close and there are a lot of old houses. Anytime there is a fire, lots of people will be affected," Hazel said.
After touring the area and speaking to the fire victims, Minister of Social Transformation Hamilton Lashley assured them that Greenfields will be placed on the list of areas to be redeveloped by Government. He said there was a serious problem in Barbados with areas where houses were clustered such as "Greenfields, Vietnam, Beirut and the Barracks and before the end of the financial year we will be launching a major re-development of these areas".
Lashley said just yesterday, he had a meeting with the Prime Minister and Director of the Urban Development Commission O"Brian Trotman, to discuss this problem and the issue of them being fire hazards was raised.
Meanwhile, Acting Chief Fire officer Clifford Clarke expressed concern about paros and other characters moving into dilapidated buildings and said they should either be demolished or properly secured.