Plaisance fire victims receive donation, hopeful for houses
“I lost everything” – mother of 4
Some 40 persons who were affected by the Mash Day fire that destroyed an apartment complex and two houses at Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD), received cash and other items on Monday, but some recipients were hopeful that the Central Housing and Planning Authority would fast-track their housing applications as they have no place to live.
Government, in collaboration with private entities, handed over beds, mattresses, table-model stoves, kitchen utensils and food vouchers to the families, while other individuals received kitchen utensils and food vouchers. Recipients also received cash ranging from $10,000 to $50,000.
Some of the victims have beds to sleep on, but some are desirous of having houses in which they could put the items donated to them
Some of the beneficiaries told Guyana Times that while they were thankful, they were hopeful that Government would provide them with a house and land, so they could have somewhere to call their own. Mother of four, Robin Bollers said that while the donation was a start, she was hopeful to move into her own home, as she was living in the back house which was owned by her grandmother.
“I lost everything and I would like a house for me and my children, because I don’t have anywhere to live. I staying at my grandmother with two of the children while my husband staying at the shelter, but my father staying with me so it’s like four of us on a bed,” she observed.
Her spouse, Dywane Bollers, clutching his 15-month-old baby, told this newspaper that he was feeling better though still dealing with the loss from last Friday’s fire.
Meanwhile, Kerwin Johnson, who says he discovered the body of his 82-year-old neighbour in the rubble, explained that he too has no place to live and noted that many residents were staying in a shelter.
“I was expecting something more, because the least people would want to rent a place is three months’ rent in advance and I have no cash ‘cause all my stuff burn up,” he stressed.
The fire reportedly started about 14:30h in the apartment building located at Victoria Road, Plaisance.
