North-East La Penitence resident Merle Franklyn has been awaiting compensation from the Mayor and City Council after a tree fell on her home more than a year before a similar incident on Sunday claimed the life of a five year-old girl.
Following Tomecia Hackett’s death, City Council spokesman Royston King had noted that there was a similar occurrence over a year ago. While King said that the City Council provided support to the victim of the earlier incident, Franklyn told Stabroek News that little was done.
The woman recalled that in June 2010, a tree fell on her home, resulting in injuries to two children, Desiree Junior, then 7, and Akeem Junior, then 1, as well as damaged to furniture and other items.
Franklyn, who shares the three apartment home with her mother, a daughter and six grandchildren, said that the Council only provided them with a tarpaulin after the disaster. On their own, she said they eventually managed to acquire several zinc sheets, which are now being kept in place by pieces of wood that have been placed on top of them. Franklyn’s elderly mother, who shares one of the apartments, fears that with heavy winds, the zinc sheets will be blown away.
Numerous patches can be seen on the zinc sheets and the family lives with the discomfort of being awakened by leaks that occur during the rainy season. This has led the family members to set several containers about the home to collect the water.
The Council, Franklyn said, has done nothing so far and upon numerous inquiries into the matter the woman said she has only been told that the Council does not have the money and so they would have to wait. “Up to [Monday] when they come to see the house that get damaged over there, I asked them what is the position, because I still waiting and they say the same thing,” she stated.
Franklyn indicated that the Council had previously told her that she and her daughter would be compensated $400,000 for the damage to property. She added that she was on Monday told to visit the Council to discuss the matter. She said she wants her home repaired as soon as possible or alternatively to be given the money to undertake the work on her own.
Further, Franklyn stated that she has had concerns about a neighbour’s coconut tree situated at the back of her house, since it is already leaning towards her property. She said she has since asked the person to have the tree cut down.
Although Franklyn had applied for a house lot some years ago, she only recently got a call to make a down payment for a lot at Parfait Harmony. “Where am I going to get that money from?” she asked, while adding that she wanted a lot that is not so far away.
Hackett, of Buffer Dam, North-East La Penitence, died after a 20-ft tall Ite palm tree fell on her home during high winds.
Hackett’s siblings, Kelly Ann, 7, and Richard, 3, who were asleep with her on top a bunk bed at the time, escaped with minor injuries. Her mother, Tomika Hope, 23, and father Junior Hackett, 26, also escaped with minor injuries. The couple was asleep at the bottom of the bunk bed with their one-year-old son Julius at the time and the latter escaped the disaster unhurt.
