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Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness and Assistant Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade Julian Davis Buckle
Prime Minister has expressed sorrow and outrage at the deaths of three children, all siblings, in a house fire in St. Ann on Sunday morning.
The tragic blaze in Cottage, Walkerswood, claimed the lives of seven year-old Tashawna Mattis and her siblings, four year-old Tashawine Mattis, and two year-old Tavarno Mattis.
Their grandmother and five year-old sibling managed to escape.
The Jamaica Fire Brigade is investigating the cause of the fire which started around 2 am, however Commissioner Stewart Beckford had indicated that the grandmother reported that the house had no electricity and was being lit by lamps.
The Prime Minister, in his immediate response to the tragedy, lamented the frquency of deadly house fires that have occurred in recent weeks and again pledged that the government is working to bring legal electricity to all households.
He said the deadly blaze highlights serious issues in relation to the economic situation of many households that must be addressed.
"The government is committed to addressing energy poverty and ensuring that all Jamaicans have access to safe, regularised and affordable electricity to meet their basic living needs," he said.
Accordingly, he said the ministry responsible for energy "is far advanced in developing the Solar Access Programme for energy in certain households in Jamaica."
"Every Jamaican child deserves to grow up in a safe enviroment, and this incident brings into sharp focus the gaps in vigilance and responsible parenting we face as a nation," Dr Holness added.
JFB makes public appeal
Assistant Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade Julian Davis Buckle, also raised concern about the number of children who are victims of house fires, revealing that in 2024 there were 24 such "fire-related deaths," and already there have been four in the early days of 2025.
She is appealing to the public to heed the safety drills and tips provided by the Brigade.
"We, from time to time, focus on fire drills for businesses and big establishments, but maybe we need to start practicing fire drills in our homes," she said, highlighting the need, for example, to establish the best escape routes in each home.
"If it is a siutation where you use a lamp, ensure the lamps are put out before you retire to bed. If you are using candles, ensure they are put out before you go to bed. Do not leave your cooking unattended (and) ensure that when you finish cooking all stoves are off; your regulators are turned off; gas cylinders must be kept outside the house," she added.
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