WITH just a week left to go before Christmas, some of the 54 vendors who had stalls and millions of dollars’ worth of goods destroyed by fire at the Pearnel Charles Arcade in downtown Kingston on November 18 are struggling to get back in their feet.

The fire was concentrated to the northern end of the arcade where the damage occurred. The 54 vendors operated from more than 100 stalls.

The southern end was not impacted, and on Wednesday when the Jamaica Observer visited the arcade it was business as usual for those vendors who operate in that section. For the most part, those in the southern end were very busy attending to streams of shoppers seeking to purchase shoes and clothes for Christmas.

While some of the 54 vendors who were impacted in the northern end appeared stumped and unaware of how they’ll be able to bounce back, others said they were determined not to stay down. They said that they have families to feed and, in the midst of charred metal stalls and rubble, they sought to set up back their selling areas as best they could to capitalise on last-minute sales before Christmas.

“From there is life there is hope, man,” said one male vendor who was affected by the fire. He explained that after his stock of clothes and shoes was razed, he was forced to take goods on credit.

Another male vendor, who sells shoes, said that he lost millions of dollars’ worth of goods. He did not place a monetary value on his loss. With no help, he said he managed to clean up his selling space, paint the walls and install new shelves to display shoes for sale.

“Everybody a try recover now. Government nuh give nobody nothing. Everybody affi a fend fi dem self. They say the building is insured but the content nuh insured. We were told that in here is high-risk so we can’t claim anything. I lost everything, millions of dollars in shoes. In here was packed with shoes go straight up to the ceiling, and I had boxes with shoes that weren’t pulled as yet.

“About four days ago I set up this that you see here. I have to do what I have to do. Remember, we have kids to feed, we have family and we have woman, so we have to be out here. They say Government don’t owe us a living. We owe ourselves a living. The greatest thing is that we have life and we can come back again firm and tell the tale. If it’s even one shoes we get to sell we still have to be on the hunt. The people are in distress, man, just look at their faces,” he said.

He made reference to the eastern end of the arcade that was destroyed by fire 12 years ago. He said that based on how things unfolded after that fire, he was convinced that nothing would happen to repair the roof and other areas that were damaged by the recent fire.

There was no roof on the eastern end and he explained that it was the fire 12 years ago that destroyed it. He said there is a need for Government to help most of the people to get back on their feet. His argument was that they have to pay every week to use the arcade and they have been doing so over the years and was convinced that something can be done to assist them.

“Them not even did want to clean out in here. At least give us some relief supplies, man. We know say you strapped for cash and thing but please, do something for us,” he appealed.

One female vendor said she lost $14 million worth of goods in the blaze.

“They don’t give us anything. Me sell shoes and pants and me a tek mi time a build up back. Me affi weld up the place and put in shelves and start back life all over again,” she said.

Following the fire, divisional commander of the Kingston and St Andrew Division of the Jamaica Fire Brigade Senior Superintendent Patrick Gooden said firefighters responded to a call about 7:08 am which saw one unit from the Trench Town Fire Station. They were later assisted by firefighters from Half-Way-Tree and York Park fire stations.