3 MONTHS AFTER TRAGEDY, BODIES FINALLY AVAILABLE BUT…
OCHO RIOS, St Ann; April 14, 2025
(Exclusive to the North Coast Times)
Three children killed in a fire that destroyed their three-room house in St Ann three whole months ago are yet to be buried.
The three siblings were burnt to death, on Sunday morning, January 12, 2025. They were in a room together and were burnt beyond recognition in the fire in the fire that started about 2:30 a.m.
(From left 7-Y-O Tashana, 2-Y-O Tavarno, and 4-Y-O Tashwanie Mattis)
They were identified as two-year-old Tavarno Mattis, four-year-old Tashawnie Mattis and seven-year-old Tashana Mattis.
An autopsy determined they all died from smoke inhalation.
Their sibling, five-year-old Tadane Mattis was rescued along with their maternal grandmother Robin Roach who was with him in the house in another room.
Since then there has been bitterness and acrimony among family members even as the police questioned at least a dozen people in the community in their investigations about whether the mother 24-year-old Tanique Wilson should be charged.
POLICE FILE
The mother had left the children at the house and gone out on the night of the fire.
Police said they were completing a file to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a decision. Extensive police work has been done and the file is awaiting the report by the Fire Brigade, North Coast Times has been informed
Only last week the family was able to get from the authorities the burial orders, following completion of the post mortem on the three bodies.
However, there are concerns now about the way forward as relations have soured within the family, leading to public disagreement even on the night of the candlelight on January 21.
(Scenes from the candlelight ceremony)
Paternal grandmother of the children, Annette Henry, popularly called Miss Debbie says agreement reached, with police, about the children’s mother and her taking responsibility are not being followed.
Ms Wilson told the North Coast Times that her children’s father Odain Mattis and his mother, Miss Henry want to make changes to the agreement without her full involvement.
ROW OVER BURIAL ORDER
She said she was not letting go of the burial order. “I am not going to give it to them,” she said. She said she had planned the grave digging for April 27, 2025
(Annette Henry has been taking care of the child who survived)
Ms Wilson said she was coping “pretty well”. She said people expect her to be “falling down and crying” but she had prayed to her God and he was helping her.
Miss Henry said the children had suffered in life and now in death. She said it was not true that she was trying to take over the planning of the funeral but she would continue doing everything she could.
Meantime, MP for North East St Ann Matthew Samuda has moved to help the family with funeral expenses. The Minister responsible for water is MP for the neighbouring St Ann constituency and was one of the first officials on the scene three months ago.
He told the North Coast Times that he had reached out to the Ministry of Social Security which had agreed to take on the legitimate funeral costs. Mr Samuda intervened after family members and area residents appealed to the North Coast Times to help get assistance for the family that was facing major financial issues and a row over who should be taking charge of the funeral arrangements.
However, Mr Samuda said there were difficulties in getting the required papers from the family to facilitate the Ministry’s assistance.
Ms Henry said not much help had come from the various agencies and representatives who had promised to assist. She said furniture required to fit out the room for the young boy, Tadane who was rescued, had not been provided. She is taking care of the child at her home. She said even the counselling offered had come in only one session.
She praised PNP MP candidate Dr Kenneth Russell who she said was regularly in touch and gave his own money to help.
Ministry of Social Security said they were in touch with the family and had gone there after the fire. MP Lisa Hanna sent food and toiletries. The CDA reportedly also send supplies of grocery twice and immediately after the fire and promised to pay the school fees for the surviving child.
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HERE IS THE VIDEO ON THE FRANKLY SPEAKING JAMAICA YOUTUBE CHANNEL, SUMMARISING WHERE THINGS HAVE REACHED:
