“We try we best” – relative who tried to save mother, 4 children trapped in burning house

…arson suspected

A mother and four of her children have perished in an early morning fire that ravaged their home at Number 64 Village, Corentyne, East Berbice, Region Six.
Dead are 34-year-old Hemwattie Singh and her children: Kelvin Ramjatan, called “Rovin”, 14; Brandon Ramjatan, called “Ravin”, a 10-year-old living with a disability; Cindy Ramjatan, called “Emily”, 11, a student of New Market Primary School; and Tomesh Ramjatan, called “Arvin,” a two-year-old.
The eldest of her children, 17-year-old Kevin Ramjatan, called Alex, managed to escape unharmed.
Investigating authorities are working with the theory that the tragedy might have been an act of arson. Reports are that the fire started at about 02:00h on Tuesday in the two-storey building at Number 64 Village, Corentyne; and hours later, the charred remains of five victims were pulled from the rubble.
Police Headquarters have issued a statement on the tragedy, detailing that the 17-year-old was asleep on the verandah on the upper flat when he was awakened by the sound of an explosion and the cackling of a fire.
The teen ran downstairs to where his mother and siblings were located, and noticed that they were already awake and trying to escape from the burning building. The family tried to run out of the house, but the intense heat generated by the flames forced them to turn back and head upstairs, where they were left trapped.

The 17-year-old managed to escape, and he sought help for the family, but to no avail.
His uncle Navindra Mohan, who lives nearby, told police he had heard an explosion.
“When we reach, the whole house in fire! We try we best to get the lil boy, but when we call, nobody answer! The fire was right around. All we hearing is boom! Boom! Sheer noise from inside the house.”
Mohan told police that, along with a cousin, he tried to get into the burning building, but could not. He also told police that he heard the teen saying there was an explosion and he had seen someone leaving the yard.
“Me ask am if he see is who, but I can’t tell if he answer me. He went in the house, and after he hear the thing explode, he run out from the side door. The house get steel grill at all the windows and doors. When he run out, he call he mother, and she did come down, but she go back for the children inside the house,” the uncle explained.
According to the police, the children’s father, Rohan Ramjatan, a cattle farmer called “Map Head”, had been arrested on Monday afternoon in connection with a cattle-rustling matter, and was in police custody at the time of the fire.
The fire also consumed a second building. That two-storey structure was unoccupied at the time, but had been fully furnished.
Shackoontal Yadram, who has lost a daughter and four grandchildren in the blaze, has said it was her eldest grandchild who had come calling to alert her of the fire. At the time, she was asleep.

“It was 2 O’clock, and he say ‘Nanny! Nanny! the house catch fire!’ So me wake all me grand pickney dem and tell dem we going and see. When me go, me see fire red-red on the house. Me nah see me daughter, me nah see me grand pickney,” the woman said.
Divisional Five Officer Clive McDonald told the media that at 03:10 the Fire Service Headquarters in Georgetown received the fire call, and summoned the Corriverton Fire Station, which is the closest. When they arrived, one building was consumed by fire and a second building was engulfed.
Regional Police Commander Shivpersaud Bacchus has said the police received the report of the fire at about 02:30h, and summoned the Fire Department after receiving the information.
The police have since questioned the 17-year-old about the incident as the Fire Service continues its investigation.

Condolences
Meanwhile, President Dr Irfaan Ali has since offered condolences to the families affected by the tragedy.
In a social media post, he said: “My heart aches for their loved ones as they cope with this unimaginable loss. No words can ease the pain, but I hope they find comfort in the love and memories shared. May their souls rest in peace and the family find strength in this difficult time.” (Andrew Carmichael)