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A few women took turns yesterday pushing a wheelbarrow with concrete blocks in the direction of a group of young men who were busy rebuilding houses that were destroyed by a raging fire on December 23 at sections of Love Lane and Church Street in downtown Kingston.

The unmistakable voice of Dennis Brown, heard through a speaker box on his 1981 single, If I Had The World, was like a calming spirit for these residents who have been working overtime to put their lives back together. A blue tarpaulin served as a roof of one of the partially burnt houses that was filled with furniture saved from the blaze.

The past two weeks could be easily the most challenging for the affected men, women and children, and the grim expressions on their faces say it all.

The massive fire demolished 10 houses and left 30 persons homeless. Among them were 98-year-old Amy James and her best friend, 90-year-old Vileta Taylor.

Yesterday, James's grandson, Omare Walters, carried her on his back - from the shipping container in the yard that has been converted to a living quarters - to a waiting vehicle. The container, he said, was donated by a businessman for the two elderly women.

James's granddaughter, Nyoka Powell, said she was being taken to a doctor's appointment as, like Taylor, her medication was destroyed in the blaze.

Anxious to return home

"Her house is in the process of being rebuilt and she is anxious to return home. She keeps saying she wants to return home and even when we offered that she lives elsewhere, she remains adamant, so we are granting her wish. She wants to continue to live with her best friend, Miss Vileta, as they have lived together for decades," Walters said.

Taylor, who is diabetic, is said to be in hospital. However, the elderly women are said to be looking forward to the day when they will return to the comfort of their own homes.

Powell said that Desmond McKenzie, the member of parliament for Kingston West where Love Lane and Church Street fall, has rendered assistance to the affected families. She, however, said that they are badly in need of more help.

Walters, whose house was destroyed, is rebuilding his dwelling with the assistance of a few good friends. "People come from as far as Spanish Town to come help and mi really grateful," he said.

Shakara Wade, another fire victim, stared at the spot where her home once stood. Work is being carried out to rebuild the house that she shared with her two children, ages seven and one, but the young mother said she feels stressed out.

"Mi son can't even start online class because his tablet burn up," she said. "It was supposed to be his Christmas gift but that never happen. Right now, all he has is nightmares. Every night him wake up a cry and a say him dream say the place a burn down and mi have to a tell him say things a go okay."

Wade said the youngster's tested glass were also destroyed and she is unable to find the $45,000 to replace them.

"Him not seeing properly right now, and I just cannot afford the money. I just don't know what to do because the fire just set me back really bad in life," she said.