Narine Hanson is desperately seeking help to cover the costs of burying her two children who died last week in what is suspected to be a tragic case of food poisoning. Ten-year-old Jevaughn Hanson and his 16-year-old sister, Sherna of Town Head, Westmoreland, became ill after eating a meal of ackees, canned mackerel and rice prepared by Sherna. They died days apart.

Their brothers, Tasman, 13 and David, 6, were admitted to the Savanna-la-mar Hospital for treatment. David was released earlier this week, but Tasman is still in.

” I went to the NIS office but me no get any help yet. Me need assistance to cover the funeral costs because I am not able to manage everything,” lamented a distressed Hanson who works at the Hampden Estate, Trelawny, and lives away from family in Dumfries, St James, visiting them on fortnightly basis.

In a quick response, Dr Wykeham McNeil, Western Westmoreland MP promised to do everything possible for his bereaved constituents.

McNeil explained that he has instructed Councillor for the Friendship Division, Edwin Allwood-who was in contact with the father of the deceased – who was at work on the Frome Sugar Estate where he has been employed for a number of years when the deadly meal was prepared -to find out what can be done for the family.

Meanwhile, during a telephone interview McNeil guaranteed he would today “pass by and finalise with parents to see what we can do”.

Three years ago the Town Head community was thrust into national focus after two little girls, Shanna Kay Legister, nine, and Sheneka Shakes, eight, were found murdered inside canefields near their school, a day after they were reported missing.

[Observer Western]