As per reports, eight-year-olds Jamar Reid and Romaine Powell lost their lives in a house fire as tragedy unfolded in Culloden, Whitehouse, Westmoreland, early Thursday morning. The boys, both students at New Hope Primary and Junior High, were reportedly left alone at home when the fire broke out.
Their charred remains were later discovered by firefighters conducting cooling-down operations.
In the aftermath, an adult male and female, identified as relatives but not parents of the boys, have been taken into custody, according to Superintendent Othniel Dobson, the police commander for Westmoreland.
The incident has devastated the close-knit community. “I cannot understand what could have caused two adults to leave these children alone,” lamented one resident.
As reported by the Jamaica Gleaner, During the monthly meeting of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation, Michael Jackson, councillor for the Whitehouse division, called for a minute of silence to honour the boys.
He urged parents to prioritize their children’s safety, emphasizing, “While trying to make an honest living, risks must be calculated and within the law.”
