Residents, family rebuild Amelia’s Ward home destroyed by fire

Residents of Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) have pooled their resources to assist an Amelia’s Ward family of seven who lost their home to a fire on Wednesday afternoon.

The residents and family members have already commenced the reconstruction of the home of 42-year-old Melissa McKinnon, a security guard attached to the Amelia’s Ward Nursery School.
The wooden house: Lot 1651 Central Amelia’s Ward that McKinnon shared with five of her children, went up in flames at sometime between 14:00h and 15:30h. after she left for work. At the time, two of her teenage children were at home.
It was reported that at approximately 10:00h, the male teen left his sister at home to visit a friend’s, and at about 14:00h, his sister secured the house and made her way to her mother’s work place a short distance away.
It was during this time that the mother received information that her house was completely burnt. The fire was extinguished by fire fighters who arrived at the scene.
However, the community quickly pooled together resources to assist the family, and were in the process of laying the foundation for a new home on Thursday when Guyana Times visited. The family is staying with relatives and neighbours.
A resident, Garfield Jones, told this publication that there has been an outpouring of assistance for the family so far.
“We, as neighbours, we think it’s only fair that we show respect…to fulfill this desire, because this is a family who needs the support. We’d even like for the Government of Guyana and responsible citizens to focus and understand the situation when you have a fire… It could happen to anybody. At the said time, we’re looking to contribute everything. As for me, I’m looking to contribute my labour and my time. Some people contribute money, materials, but it’s a collective community project because of a disaster.
“So, I’m appealing to people responding for these things, like the fire relief, to look into the interest of the people”, he noted.
Jones also urged the Government and other persons in the community to support the family with the reconstruction efforts. He said that persons have donated concrete blocks, cement, and other building materials.
The woman’s father, Nelson McKinnon, said his daughter is well loved around the community, as is shown in the outpouring of support.
“They contribute meaningfully, that we feel confident in getting things done as fast as possible. Because it was only yesterday that the fire was here, and as you can see, foundation is already dug and we’re laying the steel. Then we would be mixing the cement to cast the foundation. The people around giving us strength…once you got the unity in the system of helping people, that’s about it…everybody is chipping in with something”, he noted.
The elder McKinnon said the family is also receiving assistance from other family members overseas.
Meanwhile, McKinnon’s teenage daughter said the family is coping, but her mother is frustrated over the situation. She noted that the family is thankful for the support given.
“We’re coping fine. ‘Thank you’ to the neighbourhood and everybody who supported us, and the donation that they have made. We’re still giving thanks to God”, the teen said.