A Corentyne family of three is now homeless for the new year after a fire of unknown origin completely destroyed their one-storey, two-bedroom house.
The Sunday evening fire also destroyed the roof of their neighbour’s brand new concrete house which they have not yet been able to live in. Nomattie Chinapa also known as Chandra, 37, of Number 79 Village, Corentyne, explained that her husband left for work around 5. 30 pm on Sunday, after which she decided to head to a nearby grocery store with her son, when she was informed that her house was on fire. “Be time abie come the house done deh burn already and abie na get fa save nothing, be time fire (truck) come abie house done burn and neighbour house done catch”.
Chinapa who estimated her loss in the millions stated that her house was furnished and contained a sum of cash which she was saving and her family’s jewellery. As she broke into tears she said, “Abie very poor people, me husband a work hard, go back dam, go fishing, work with people to build what abie we get, me a make much and furnish me house”. The woman said it is suspected that the fire started in the kitchen but she had no idea how it happened, “Me done cook since 10 o clock and abie buy food fa eat too, nothing na been a light”.
She said, presently they are making do with assistance from relatives and neighbours. “This really bad, really sad, I can’t able bear it”, she said. Before the fire service arrived the fire had already spread to a neighbouring house destroying the roof. Shafeer Khan, 27, explained, that he had not yet moved into the house with his family since he had about one week more of minor works to complete on the newly constructed concrete building. “When me come me see the house on fire and everybody start cooperate and help me and out the fire”, he noted.
The devastated man estimated his losses to be at least $3M. On Sunday morning, a fire left a father and son of D’ Edward Village, West Bank Berbice homeless also. Alvin Spencer, 58, resided in the house with his 16-year-old son whose school items were des-troyed. Stabroek News was told that the early morning fire was first spotted in the middle of the house which led to Spencer and his son to escape.
On Saturday last, a fire left a West Coast Berbice lecturer seeking refuge at her friend’s home after it completely destroyed her three-bedroom wooden house.
Mersha Gouveia of Number 29 Village, West Coast Berbice, a lecturer at the Teachers Training College believes that it could be a relative behind the fire since he had threatened on numerous occasion to burn the house.
