Roy Sanford, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
COUNCILLOR CALVIN Ellison of the St. James Parish Council's Monte-go Bay South Division has expressed disappointment at the slow pace of assistance for the 35 persons who were left homeless by a huge fire in Canterbury on July 16.
Meantime, he is urging the Government to establish a fund that will provide rapid assistance for victims of fires.
"I would recommend to the Government that it establishes, on a serious and urgent basis, a fire assistance fund for persons who are burnt out," Ellison told The Gleaner yesterday. "When you have 35 people left homeless the Government should be the first to give meaningful assistance."
Mr. Ellison noted that help for fire victims comes mostly from volunteer organisations, such as the Salvation Army, the Adven-tist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and from private persons who have been donating food and clothing. "Otherwise, assistance has been very slow and sort of disappointing. We need to get more long-term assistance."
Mr. Ellison revealed that consultations have been held with Montego Bay Mayor Noel Donaldson and Ian Reid, secretary/manager of the St. James Parish Council, in the hope of getting more relief for the victims. "We at the Council are looking forward to furnishing all the families that have been burntout with some vouchers for food and clothes, for starters," Mr. Ellison said. "We also want to get them at least a stove and beds as soon as possible."
The fire, which destroyed seven wooden structures in the inner-city community, was estimated to have caused about $10 million in damage.
