A family of five from Lima Public Road, on the Essequibo Coast, is now homeless following a fire which completely destroyed their two storey
concrete and wooden home. The incident reportedly occurred around midnight on Wednesday. Fire officers, who were summoned to the scene by neighbours, were unable to extinguish the blaze. According to family members, they have estimated their losses at $5 million.
Guyana Times understands that no one was at home at the time of the incident. When this publication visited that scene early Thursday morning, the owner’s daughter, Vallini Singh, who was visibly distraught, explained that the premises is owned by her deceased father, Jainarine (only name given) but that it is occupied by her brothers ages 14 and 24 years and their families .
Singh recounted that she was informed about the incident on Thursday morning, and still cannot come to grips with what happened. She added that only last week she visited the home and assisted in cleaning up.
“My brothers and sister-in-law don’t really be a
round. They come and spend time. Whenever they get work at sea or at North West, they go, but when they come out, the house is there and they bought a lot of new household items recently, this is really sad, my father legacy destroyed,” Singh stated.
The items lost in the fire include beds, a washing machine, stoves, a refrigerator, a microwave, sofa and other house hold items. The woman also said that the house was recently refurbished, which adds to the losses.
Singh said she is unsure as to what the family’s next move is, as they are in need of a new home. “Once my brothers get a new house they can live, but where would they come and stay now,” Singh said.
The sister is therefore calling on kind hearted Guyanese to assist her brothers in rebuilding. Singh said she is uncertain as to what caused the fire. When contacted, the head of the Anna Regina Fire Station, Clive McDonald explained that while the origin of the fire is yet unknown, investigations are continuing.