A seven-month-old baby perished on Monday morning after his home was allegedly set on fire by a suspected arsonist, who had threatened to burn down the house after the owner made a report against him and his cohorts.
Dead baby: Romain Seth
The charred remains of seven-month-old Romain Levi Seth were pulled from the ruins hours after the fire was extinguished by firefighters at Lot 462 Third Field, Kaneville, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
The remains were found in the same area where the child was left sleeping when he was put to bed by his grandmother on Sunday evening. The fire reportedly started about 02:00h in the same bedroom after an explosive device was hurled through the window by a young man whose name was provided to the Police.
Guyana Times understands that the young man and his friends had threatened to set the house alight after the owner, Michelle Menez, had made a report to the Police Station about their marijuana business close to her home.
The young men were reportedly arrested, but were later released by the Police. It was upon their release that they threatened to kill each member of the house and accused Menez of being a Police informant. When Guyana Times visited the scene on Monday, a pair of rubber slippers suspected to be that of the arsonist was left behind.
The remains of the wooden structure after the blaze
The owner of the house, who is the dead child’s grandmother, and the mother of the dead baby were at the Grove Police Station.
The mother, Holly Seth, who was in tears told Guyana Times that she left her only child with her mother, since she had to run some errands with her brother. When the fire started about 02:00h, she had not returned.
The grieving mother explained that she received a call from her niece who informed her that her house was on fire. At that moment, she was not aware that her son had perished.
“It was until I reach home and enquire about my son, they tell me that he burn up…” she cried.
At the scene of the fire, an aunt, Yonette Walters, told Guyana Times that she received a telephone call from her daughter who informed her that her house was on fire.
“I was at work, so I called my boss and tell him my house on fire and I rushed home… when I reach I see it was my sister’s house instead… I enquire what happen and all they tell me is that Romain get burn up… My sister was crying bitterly and I comfort her,” the woman stated.
She also confirmed that at the time of the fire, her sister was at home along with eight children. Walters explained that her sister attempted to save her grandson from the inferno, but the heat was too intense. She, however, managed to save the others.
A teenaged relative who resides next door recalled feeling heat and upon looking through the window, she realised that her aunt’s house was on fire and immediately raised an alarm. By that time, portions of the wooden structure were already engulfed in flames.
Persons in the area and other family members formed a bucket brigade and attempted to control the blaze until the firefighters arrived on the scene. The distraught teenager recollected her aunt crying out for Romain and it was then they were told that the baby had burnt to death.
The Police and the Guyana Fire Service have launched an investigation into the fire. Several persons were detained for questioning. (Bhisham Mohamed)
