News

DEATH TRAP

WHEN THE BIBLE spoke of bearing your neighbour's burden, no one ever dreamed it meant holding up their collapsing house as well. But that is the case of Una Hyatt, whose house has been 'holding up' her neighbour's home for almost two months.

Una's house has been bearing the burden of the burnt-out concrete building which collapsed on her house. And, it is not the house only that is now bearing the burden, as she has become concerned that something serious may happen one day.

"I am worried because I have a tenant and her grandchildren always a come visit her and I don't want the house to fall down and hurt one of them," she said

Una lives at 1 1/4 Sarah Street in Allman Town. The house which threatens her life and property was gutted by fire more than five years ago, however in recent months pieces of the house have been falling into her yard.

Literally overnight the situation became worse when she woke up and discovered her neighbour's house had partially fallen unto her house and was only being supported by a section of her roof.

The abandoned building has no roof and is filled with several cracks and holes. When THE STAR visited the property, sections of the wall closest to Una's house were bulging and appeared to be crumbling under some pressure.

The 'death trap' worries Una who says she has tried to contact the former owners of the property who now reside overseas but that effort has been unsuccessful.

She also said she has written several letters and made reports to the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) building department but is yet to receive any action from them. "I went two times and they say they would send someone. I wrote to the KSAC and still they have done nothing," she said.

When THE STAR contacted Norman Shand, City Engineer at the KSAC, he said he has not received a report, however he will look into the matter. He said that he will have to inspect the property to see the extent of the damage and then determine the best action to be taken.

In the meantime, Una says she is tired of running around and trying to get help because her life is in danger and she fells like no one will do anything about it.

She is therefore appealing to the relevant authorities to come and demolish the house before it totally collapses and destroys her home, and in the process, kills someone.