Arson suspected as Good Intent house goes up in flames
The debris from the house that was destroyed by fire on Thursday
A mentally ill man is being accused of setting his parents’ Good Intent, West Bank Demerara (WBD) home on fire, which resulted in complete destruction.
The fire occurred at about 08:30h on Friday in a one-storey wooden and concrete building on Lot 33 Murphy Street, Good Intent, WBD.
According to reports, the house belonged to a fisherman named Ramzan, who had recently left for vacation. Ramzan’s wife had passed away before his departure, leaving him and his 26-year-old mentally challenged son as the only occupants of the house.
Samantha, Ramzan’s stepdaughter, in an interview with Guyana Times on Friday, recounted that she was at work when she received the call about the house on fire. Rushing to the scene, she said she was met with a heart-breaking sight—the family home, which held cherished memories of her mother, lying in ruins.
“…I leave work right away and when I come, the house was already burned. I don’t really know what transpired. According to the neighbours, my brother was in the house before the fire started,” she said.
Prior to Ramzan’s departure, Samantha said he had been in the process of rebuilding a section of the house. She said it was his intention to complete the renovations upon his return.
An eyewitnesses told this publication that smoke was noticed emanating from the house, prompting neighbours to alert the Fire Service. Additionally, the eyewitness said Ramzan’s son was observed fleeing the scene, raising suspicions that he might have started the fire.
However, Samantha said her brother has been mentally challenged for years, and recently picked up a habit of smoking.
“…we haven’t carried him to the doctor to confirm if he is a mental person, but so far from the time he growing up and I know he, I know that he does trouble with his nerve. Lately, he has been doing weird stuff and to us, it looks like it is his nerve”, the woman related.
Still grappling with the loss of her stepfather’s home and her mother’s belongings, Samantha expressed her deep sorrow.
“I don’t feel good about this because people don’t know how you feel inside…my mother passed away and left my brother, and he was not left in a good state.”
Meanwhile, the 26-year-old man was taken into custody, and an investigation was launched. (G9)
