Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 25, 2014 News
While neighbours are claiming that it was unattended diyas that caused the fire at Lusignan, East
Coast Demerara (ECD) that resulted in two homes being burnt to the ground, owner of the house where the fire started Deomattie Ramrattan, is insisting that is not the case.
The fire which started around 18:30 hrs on Thursday last, completely destroyed two three-bedroom homes located at Lot 127 and 128 Lusignan Market Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
Six persons are now homeless as a result of that fire.
Ramrattan, also known as “Aunty Golin” who resided at Lot 127 Lusignan, claimed that she purchased 60 diyas but only lit 20 on Diwali night.
She explained that she lit the diyas on her step and not in her bedroom, where the fire started before it quickly spread and completely destroyed the neighbouring building at Lot 128 Lusignan where Shanta Motilall and her family resided.
Yesterday, during an interview with this newspaper, Ramrattan related that after she lit the diyas on her step, she stayed downstairs to “keep an eye on them.”
“I did not light diyas in my house,” she exclaimed. The woman added that, “My daughter went away for 14 years and now she come back with her son to spend two weeks and now this happen.”
According to Ramrattan, her daughter and grandson had gone upstairs to get steel wool when they noticed thick smoke emanating from one of the three rooms.
“I hear when she tell her son that smoke coming from the room and when they check, they see
the fire upstairs. She grabbed her travel documents and run. We couldn’t save anything. Everything burnt to ashes,” the woman said.
With tears streaming down her cheeks, Ramrattan said that it was hard for her to witness her home turn to ashes.
“I worked hard, very hard to get this house and my daughter overseas helped me to build it,” Ramrattan said. She added that although she lost her home, neighbours are accusing her of starting the fire.
“Why would I burn my house down,” the 64-year-old woman questioned.
Meanwhile in an interview with this newspaper, Motilall said that she was in her room when she heard shouts if ‘fire.”
“I went outside and I see the smoke in the middle of the house so I tell them to throw sand and by the time I went inside back to get my mother, the fire spread to my house. I barely made it to come out,” Motilall said.
She added that the only thing that was saved was the clothing she was wearing.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Meanwhile, UMAMI Incorporated, an agro-processing company, has donated a number of essential household items to both families.
The donation included a bed and a $50,000 voucher to each of the families.
Company representative, Chanchal Persaud said that the company, which commenced operations in Lusignan last November, saw it fitting to rise to the challenge by offering immediate assistance to the victims affected by the fire.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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