Prime Minister Andrew Holness wants to end the use of kerosene lamps and candles in homes.
He says he has asked the Ministry of Science Technology and Energy to fast-track a planned program aimed at replacing open-flame light sources in homes with solar lights in vulnerable rural and inner-city communities.
The Prime Minister’s revelation follows a deadly fire in his constituency last night which claimed the lives of three toddlers.
They have been identified as Juvanie and Jevanie Bennett and three-year-old Crisharge Maxwell.
According to reports, they were among five children who were left in the house in the care of a 13-year-old.
Holness says he is deeply saddened and has instructed his office to do all that is possible to ensure the safety and comfort of the children who have survived and that those made homeless by the fire find shelter and the relevant supplies to begin rebuilding their lives.
He says he has also instructed that an audit be done of all households in his constituency to determine which depend on open light sources so that they can urgently be replaced.
This is the second fire in as many weeks that has claimed the lives of children and the Prime Minister reiterated that more can be done to stem the danger.
The planned program aimed at replacing open flame light sources with solar lights is being led by the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica.
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