Two persons are now homeless after their home in East Canje, Berbice went up in flames on Tuesday evening.
The building on fire at Lot 35 Rajabire Street Reliance Abandon, East Canje, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne)
The fire was reportedly started in the presence of residents and Police. At about 22:30h, the Fire Service was called to extinguish a fire at Lot 35 Rajabire Street, Reliance Abandon, East Canje, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
Residents say the fire was started by a taxi driver who previously lived there with his now ex-wife Navinie Bhagwandin. The couple ended their relationship about a month ago, but the taxi driver still used to visit the home to spend time with his 11-year-old son. His ex-wife was reportedly not at home on Tuesday evening when the fire was started.
Bhagwandin had been renting the property for the past two years. Reports are that the woman’s ex-husband went to the home, broke the lock and entered the building. A neighbour, Rita Bridgemohan, said Bhagwandin telephoned her and told her that she heard that her ex-husband had broken into the house, and she was asking her to check on the property.
“She told me that he broke the lock on the door and gate and gone inside. She said that she going and bring Police and get him out the house,” the neighbour related.
The neighbour further related that Bhagwandin arrived in a car shortly after, but did not exit the vehicle. However, her ex-husband noticed her and jumped on his bicycle and approached the car, which drove away. The woman returned with the Police, by which time the man was inside the house and refused to come out.
“The Police go in the yard and they call, and then he come out on the verandah on the upstairs and start to curse. He had a cutlass and start lashing the rail. He say if anybody come inside he gon kill them,” another neighbour related.
This newspaper was told that the man then threatened to burn down the house, and begun to throw items from the home at the two Police officers who were standing in the yard.
The ranks were forced to retreat after the man threw a table at them. Neighbours say that the ranks were unable to go into the building, since the man was armed with a cutlass.
The man then lit what appeared to be a piece of paper, in full view of the neighbours and Police as he stood on the verandah and held it for all to see, and then he turned around and threw it into the house. Immediately there were flames. Shortly after the upper portion of the two storey three-bedroom building was engulfed.
Shortly after, the man was seen running from the building but the Police snatched him before he could escape.
Two units from the New Amsterdam Fire Service arrived on the scene and were able to prevent the fire from spreading. The building was, however, reduced to ashes.
Bhagwandin related that the relationship had been very abusive over the years, and her ex-husband had always threatened to burn their home. She related that after the relationship ended, she threatened to get a restraining order again him, but did not proceed because she was afraid of his reaction.
The owner of the property lives overseas.
