‘Nuff, nuff millions bun up in ya’

Market vendor of 26 years Paulette Baley said Monday’s fire at the Rae Rae Market in downtown Kingston was the 16th inferno she had endured at the location.

Noting that she did not receive assistance to recover from the previous disasters, Baley sat in the burnt rubble on Tuesday with other vendors who have been similarly affected as repeated fires leave them racking up significant losses.

Baley said her earnings at the stall over the years have allowed her to school her children, adding that she is now helping her grandchildren.

“A 15 times now in here burn out with mi and this burn makes 16. I don’t get nothing from nobody. Each time, we have to start all over. This is my only livelihood, where I eat and pay my bills. Every time it burn, nobody not even look at us,” she said even as she questioned the cause of the latest blaze.

The vendors told The Gleaner that up to noon on Tuesday, they had not seen or heard from any official at the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC).

“The police come, the media, and the [Jamaica] Fire Brigade. The people dem who collect the money from we don’t come and dem was here yesterday (Monday) collecting,” a vendor said.

Gregory Davis said he lost his stall and 10 barrels stocked with goods in the fire, adding that he only built his stall last month.

“If mi could get some used clothes or second-hand clothes to sell and get back a start – even new clothes – because I can build back the stall myself,” Davis said while going through the debris.

He noted that while many people may see their setback as small, it is costly to be repeatedly rebuilding.

BUILDING COST

“A $300 for a pallet and fi build a good size stall a 15 pallet and the workman shift, nail and dem thing deh affi buy,” Davis said.

Peter Walters told The Gleaner that $10,000 would do wonders to get him started.

“If yuh want the number and yuh raise the funds, you can call mi,” Walters said as he packed sheets of zinc against each other.

An elderly vendor, Melody Blake, said she could not reach the scene Monday night, but got to the location early on Tuesday to see the charred debris of what was once her stall.

“Mi have high blood pressure … . How mi grandpickney dem a guh go a school. A mi breadbasket that enuh. It send mi three grandchildren go to school. How it a guh go. Mi nuh have nobody to go to. No government nah go give mi nothing,” she lamented, adding that since her son died, she has been taking care of his children.

“Weh dem a go eat? A da stall deh look after dem and send dem go school,” Blake said.

According to her, there is speculation that the market was firebombed.

“We were here in Christmas and see somebody light it and we run out and out it, get water and throw on it and dem come again last night come bun it dung. Dem fi put a camera in here so we can see a who a do it,” she suggested.

She said that market fees are paid Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays.

“Nuff money, whole heap of money. A big whole stall, a $15,000 mi pay fi build the stall and mi nuh talk ‘bout material and workman. Some people pay $40,000 and $50,000 … . Nuff, nuff millions bun up in ya,” Blake said.

Market fires at the location have been frequent.

Before Monday, the most recent was in February 2022. Then, there were talks that the area would be turned into a car park. The vendors resented the idea and the plans were subsequently shelved.

The vendors expressed displeasure that not even a truck has been sent by the KSAMC to help clear the debris after Monday night’s fire.

“We need people fi help we move the things and get back on our feet,” a female vendor said.

The police and the Jamaica Fire Brigade are investigating the latest blaze.

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com