A two-storey Quamina Street building, which was home to a mother and her two young children, and which also housed a motorcycle repair shop went up in flames last evening, in a likely case of arson.
The fire, which destroyed the wooden structure located at Lot 197 Quamina Street (west of Camp Street), started at about 9 pm, and was brought under control about half an hour later, due to the courageous efforts of the fire fighters. The property, Stabroek News understands has been at the centre of an ownership dispute for sometime.
Nikita Deroache lived in the upper story of the building with her two young children ages 2 and 1. She said at the time of the fire she was in the yard hanging out with her two children while her 11-year-old brother was in the house watching television. She said she heard an explosion and afterwards heard the sound of a motorcycle speeding away from the scene. According to her, she and her brother were able to rush to safety along with the young children. The woman said she was unable to save anything and listed a television, a fridge, a washing machine and a bed as among her more expensive assets.
When the owner of the workshop, Brian La Fleur, arrived on the scene he was heard expressing his belief that it was an act of arson. Several motorcycles which were stored in the bottom flat of the building were destroyed in the blaze, while a badly scorched car was rescued. After a while La Fleur left the scene in the company of police officers.
Residents in the area told Stabroek News that they heard a loud explosion after which they saw the building catch afire. One resident said minutes before the explosion, a man was observed hanging around the property.
Just over a year ago La Fleur had expressed fears for his life and those of his family after being attacked by “channa-bomb throwers” several times.
In late August last year the man had said that four attempts had been made to torch his house and on one occasion he was attacked by gunfire.
He had first been attacked in mid March last year and at the time had suspected that these acts may have been committed by a group of persons with whom he has a “personal problem”. La Fleur had reported all the incidents to police but later told Stabroek News that they were never able to do anything.
