House of Berbice man goes up in flames days after testifying against neighbour in court

A Corentyne farmer is now homeless after a fire destroyed his Liverpool Village, Corentyne, Berbice home on Saturday. The man’s house was engulfed in flames days after he testified in an assault case involving his neighbour.
The building was owned by Gavin Cummings, a farmer. Days before the fire, Cummings had testified in court against a neighbour, who had been charged by another person with assault. Last Thursday, the woman was found guilty, and on Monday, she was sentenced.

“She was beating a girl and the girl run and come to me for rescue. So I rescue her. She decide to fight me. I didn’t fight her I push away and carry the girl to the station. The story end up come to be a court story… She go to the court and she lose the case Friday gone and the Magistrate put off the sentencing and told her to come back Monday for sentencing. The girl come home Friday, I was in the garden and she start talking, ‘That old house that you get over there ah gon bun it down. As long as you live at the corner, ah gon make you uncomfortable’. I go to the station and make a report,” Cummings related.
Hours later, Cummings related that his house went up in flames. The 60-year-old farmer, who also vends at the Port Mourant Market on Saturdays, said he left home at about 01:30h for the market, and whilst there he received information that his house was on fire.When he returned home, it was about 16:30h.
“So by the time I reach is sheer coals I come and see. The police was here… This is not the first house that she light a fire, that concrete house over there is her burn down that house.”
Back in March 2023, the Guyana Times reported that a fire of unknown origin had razed a property belonging to a poultry farmer and his wife at Liverpool Village.
The fire reportedly started at about 08:30h and destroyed the two-bedroom wooden-and-concrete home.
Meanwhile, Cummings said Saturday’s blaze destroyed two bicycles and a motorbike belonging to him, along with many household items.
“I had a lot of things in the house because I get a family he does sent thing and give me. I get a six-burner gas stove I get a big double door fridge, all three of the bedrooms had beds… That girl bun down the house with everything inside there. My old lady [mother] died and left me with everything inside there,” the father of three said as tears trickled down his cheeks.
“I am living here about fifty years. All of them around here come and reach me here,” he added.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Michelle Matthias imposed a one-year sentence on Debra Leitch on Monday. Police are also investigating allegations of arson committed by Leitch. Persons who may wish to contact Cummings can do so by telephone at 618-0515.