Family claims arson in Gales Point fire

A pregnant Gales Point woman and her two children are homeless tonight following a fire over the weekend. According to relatives, on Saturday evening Sherry-Ann Slusher took her three year old and one year old to visit her grandmother in another part of the village but around eight that night, neighbours saw smoke and then watched as fire completely engulfed the pimento structure. The victim and her children have now moved in with family members and tonight they are appealing for the public’s assistance. But as the Slushers help their loved ones rebuild their lives, they allege that the fire was deliberately set by their arch rivals in the village.

Ingrid Usher, Relative of Victims
“The two young bway gawn round the house and then they throw gas and start burn the house with everything in deh. Her mattress, two pad set, her chair, TV, everything.”

Janelle Chanona
”Why would they want to do that?”

Ingrid Usher
“The only thing weh I could seh concern with the Slushers because my uncle gial dah Slusher and one of the Myers brothers had killed my uncle gial uncle and than it look like dah from then everything they halla they no like the Slushers and my grandmother dah wah Slusher to but they seh they noh like the Slushers. And then they pass the back street and lone threaten my ma and then the lee bway lone go dah back deh so go fass with my grandmother and when they done burn deh house, he pass and he tell my grandmother that dah she next. And then with everything my lee cousin they noh have no clothes no nothing because everything mi inna the house and it burn down flat.”

According to police, the two minors that were detained following the fire have been released due to lack of evidence. Investigators say they are exploring the claims that a feud between the families led to the fire. If you would like to assist Sherry-Ann Slusher and her children, please contact her cousin Ingrid Usher at 661-4398 or 601-8374.