An early morning fire, suspected to have been set by an occupant who is mentally unstable, gutted an Agricola, East Bank Demerara (EBD) house yesterday and the man was later arrested after he fled the scene.
The fire started which started around 1.35 am completely destroyed the upper flat of the Lot 20 Agricola Public Road two-storey wood and concrete/claybrick structure. While there was also extensive damage to the bottom flat, the walls were still standing.
The house was owned and occupied by Collette Cupidore and her brother Carl James. Cupidore has been taking care of James for several years since her parents passed away.
When Stabroek News visited the scene yesterday, she was sitting at a nearby shop contemplating her next move.
Cupidore explained that she was in Georgetown when she received a call from a police officer stationed at the Agricola Police outpost informing her of the fire.
As a result, she said she immediately rushed to the scene.
She said when she arrived, the entire upper flat was already engulfed in flames and firefighters were trying to control the blaze.
She related that just a few years ago, James had threatened to kill her. She added that her brother developed a mental problem after serving a sentence for a criminal offence some four years ago. “He never use to behave so, is when he went jail and come out back, he get so.
And I join he at a clinic where he does get medication and so, but he does always get away and drink alcohol after using the tablets,” Cupidore said.
Anyone willing to render any form of assistance to Cupidore can contact her on telephone number 602-6578 or her neighbour on 233-0578.
