A fire yesterday ravaged a two-storey building at Castello Housing Scheme, leaving millions in damage and displacing a family of four in its wake.
The owner of the property, Satyanand ‘Boxer Money’ Harriram, told Stabroek News that nobody was at home at the time of the fire.
He lived in the building with his wife and two young children.
A small shop, which was in the yard, was saved and the family is now taking shelter there. The property also served as a base for a taxi and trucking service.
Harriram said he received a call sometime after 1am and he rushed to scene, where he met firefighters and three fire trucks trying to contain the blaze. The fire service may have been contacted by other residents who observed the fire, Harriram said.
The businessman said he was not aware of any faulty electrical wiring or appliance in his home that may have caused the fire. However, he said several residents have complained of damage to electrical appliances due to a fluctuation of power in the area.
Harriram expressed gratitude to the Guyana Relief Council, which has since supplied a mattress and some other items to his family.
A refrigerator and a chair set were also saved from the fire. He said the Guyana Relief Council also offered shelter for the family but they opted to stay in the shop because he operates a taxi service and wash bay on the premises.
Harriram said that he could not estimate the total loss he suffered in the fire, but he noted that the last valuation of the property estimated its value at around $15M.
