Suspect arrested over fire at TikTok personality’s home
A 33-year-old individual has been arrested in connection with a fire that occurred last Saturday at Lot 79 Mosquito Hall, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.
That fire had tragically destroyed the residence of well-known TikTok personality Kubram Ramlall, also known as ‘Rakah,’ a 49-year-old male,
along with the adjacent one-storey wooden home of his mother Shirley Pitamber.
Following extensive investigations, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has determined that that fire was an act of arson.
After that incident, the TikTok personality had taken to social media to express profound sadness over the loss of his home. He recounted seeing the alleged suspect approaching his residence with what appeared to be a container of liquid just before the fire erupted.
The fire that destroyed the house at Mosquito Hall
Shortly thereafter, his home was engulfed in flames, and the suspect was observed fleeing the scene.
The Fire Service has reported that the incident occurred at 23:45h, with the two-storey wooden building having been occupied solely by Ramlall at the time it was intentionally set on fire. The flames subsequently spread to a nearby one-storey wooden house within the same premises and quickly consumed it. This forced the mother of the TikTok personality and another occupant to seek alternative accommodation.
Kubram Ramlall, the Tic Toker whose home was destroyed
Despite the swift response of fire tenders from the Mahaica Fire Station, the firefighters were unable to salvage the burning structures.
This fire was among four cases of suspected arson that occurred last weekend, leaving several individuals homeless along the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) and in the mining town of Linden.
Fire officials reported another act of arson at Blueberry Hill, Wismar, Linden, where an abandoned building was set alight. It was disclosed that the owner of the building had passed away several years ago, and over time, the property had become a frequent gathering place for individuals.
Further, Division 10 ranks have launched an investigation into the fire that severely damaged the first floor of another building.
In a separate incident, the GFS reported that a fire occurred at Mon Repos Squatting Area, ECD, at around 04:19h on Sunday. This fire, believed to be an act of arson, destroyed a one-flat wooden building, leaving its owner Kevin Mohamed displaced.
These fires occurred less than 24 hours after another house in Mon Repos, ECD, was destroyed. At that time, the house was occupied by Haemattie Mangal and her two sons.
These tragic incidents add to the growing number of fires in 2023, with Fire Chief Gregory Wickham revealing that the Guyana Fire Service has responded to 1,347 fires, nearly double the previous year’s figure of 771.
For this year so far, 42 lives have been lost in these fires, including 20 children in the Mahdia, Region Eight blaze. Wickham attributed most of these fires to malicious intent, negligence, and electrical issues.
