Following the devastating fire which claimed the lives of a small family of three and left at least 28 others homeless, the surviving families yesterday told Stabroek News that they are still adjusting to their losses while laying their loved ones to rest.
Dawall Ifill, 15; his mother, Beverly Miller, 40; and his step-father, Marvin Lewis, 46; succumbed to smoke inhalation after they were trapped in their apartment complex at E Half Sixth Street, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara. It has been alleged that the fire was set by a relative of their landlord who was subsequently arrested and later released on bail after no charge was put against him.
Leon Richmond, one of the tenants who resided at the apartment complex at Cummings Lodge said that while his reputed wife and her children are still staying with her sister at La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, he is currently with relatives at Atlantic Ville, East Coast Demerara. The family has been afforded shelter by relatives since the night of the fire on June 27. At the time he spoke with this newspaper, he said that Desiree Miller, his reputed wife as well as the sister and aunt of two of the deceased – Beverly and Dawall, were at the village office trying to get death certificates for the deceased to be buried. He informed that they are expected to be buried sometime this week.
