Elderly man, disabled sibling lose independence following Clarendon fire

It has been a hellish week for two elderly siblings whose four-bedroom home in May Pen, Clarendon, was engulfed by fire, taking all their possessions and decades of hard work and accomplishments.

Chef Byron Desport, 67, said he was at his cook shop in the May Pen Market when, at about 10 a.m., he was alerted that his house, in Denbigh, was on fire. He rushed to the location, but was too late. The blaze, reportedly started from an electrical short-circuit, surged.

Nothing was saved, despite the valiant efforts of firefighters and onlookers swinging buckets, hoses, and anything that could carry water. To make matters worse, the house, shared by Desport, his disabled 57-year-old sister, and adult son, was not insured.

“It was really shocking,and surprising to see the fire at my doorstep. I always see it on the news, but I never knew it would reach me,” said the elderly man, voice shaking as he named the items he lost. Most importantly, he said, the fire took his most important asset at his age - his independence.

“My neighbour put me up, you know, gave me a place to stay. I stay there, and get little, little things from some other people. But it feels heartrending to know that I already fixed up my place, and it just gone. It is really sad,” bemoaned Desport, listing four televisions, refrigerators, stoves and countless pieces of furniture.

His business has also suffered, he said, explaining that for the past week he has had to limit the amount of meat he can purchase and season for his restaurant, as he has nowhere to store them. For now, his supplies are being stored at various neighbours’ houses, and access to them has proven cumbersome and inconvenient, he said.

“This week it doesn’t make any sense I go and buy meat, because I simply don’t have anywhere to put it,” continued the man, adding that he has been battling the ordeal all while taking care of his sister, who is both mute and deaf.

Since the fire, Desport and his sister have been given a small bed that they share, along with a room at a neighbour’s house. Moving around in the tight space is challenging, he noted, adding that he has also secured some clothes for his sister, who also lost everything.

“All of her medicine burn up. Everything! Right now I’m planning to take her back to the doctor so she can get some more,” continued the elderly man, adding that through limited sign language communication, his sister seems to be taking the disaster in stride.

Desport said his son, in the meantime, has taken up shelter with friends elsewhere in the community, and added that his daughter who lives overseas has been helping him stay afloat for the past week.

“We just have to try to cope, you know; take it one day at a time. The MP said that he is going to help us, so we just have to wait and see what comes out of it,” said Desport, in reference to Delroy Williams, member of parliament for Clarendon Central, who toured the area shortly after the blaze was extinguished.

“They have good neighbours and their neighbours have been rallying with them. But this is a total devastation, and as MP, I have committed to help, and I will do my best. When families are going through this kind of devastation, it is always important that as elected representatives we come together and help,” said Williams, noting that home restoration was a major priority.

“I spoke with the Ministry of Labour at the May Pen branch; and from the office, we are looking to see what we can assist them with in terms of building, zinc and roofing material. They started on Saturday, they were trying to repair one room; so I’m looking at, maximum, three weeks to get the material to them, and then see what happens from there,” Williams said.

corey.robinson@gleanerjm.com