According to reporting, two firebombing incidents in the volatile Southside community in Central Kingston on Thursday morning, August 24, 2023, left no less than thirty people, including a Sunshine Girl, homeless.
The attacks reportedly happened minutes apart on Rum Lane and Rosemary Lane.
Residents in the communities blamed the attacks on the protracted conflict between the Gennasyde and Darkside gangs.
One affected Rum Lane resident, Latanya Wilson, told the media that shouts of fire from her sister awoke her. Latanya said she only had time to grab her laptop and passport before running to safety.
Wilson said once outside, she quickly realized that she had left her three-week-old cousin and other relatives inside the house.
Wilson’s relatives, including the infant, escaped the fire without harm, but the fire obliterated their house.
Wilson, a bronze medallist with the Sunshine Girls at the recent Netball World Cup in South Africa, said she is distraught.
Wilson’s aunt, Sandra Dick, is thankful no lives were lost.
Another Rum Lane resident, Stephanie Bloomfield, said she lost all the money she had saved to cover back-to-school expenses.
Meanwhile, Sports Minister Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange condemned the arson attack. She said her office has already made arrangements to assist Sunshine Girl Latanya.