Suspected arsonist helping investigators as 12 left homeless

Waterloo Street fire…
TWELVE persons have been rendered homeless after the Tuesday night fire, at Lot 137 Waterloo Street, Georgetown.


EVERYTHING DESTROYED’: Henry Rodney looks over what remained of his home that was destroyed by fire on Tuesday night. (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)

Versatile stage actor Henry Rodney and family of six were among the victims, as the house in which he lived is where the blaze originated.

The flames destroyed two houses, including his and scorched three neighbouring buildings.

The others affected included Rudolph Gajraj and his clan of four.

Ashanti Goodridge, the alleged self-confessed arsonist, who turned herself in to Police at Brickdam Station, in the city, as well, is assisting with the investigations.

Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle said investigators are working on the arson theory because starting the conflagration was a malicious act.

He said the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) received the call at approximately 22:13 hrs and the response was from Central and Alberttown fire stations.

“One water tanker and two water tenders were involved,” Gentle said.

The Fire Chief said the firefighters did their best and were successful in preventing the disaster spread.

However, in the wake of losses, estimated in millions of dollars, nearby residents lamented previous reports, of threats to Brickdam Police, were not acted upon.

SEVERAL REPORTS
Rodney said he made several reports at Brickdam, the last on Sunday.

“Up to around 10 o’clock Tuesday night, the woman was here. She left after she had done her mischief,” he said, adding that he called Brickdam because she was walking around with a knife.

Rodney said Brickdam Police told him to write a statement and submit it.

“I did the next morning and nothing. Tuesday the fire happened,” he complained.

Rodney said the woman was always behaving in a threatening manner and was known to start fires in the yard.

He said, on one particular occasion, she set a blaze in the yard and, instead of taking chances, he reported her to the Brickdam Police.

“They picked her up before and she had to sign a bond to keep the peace,” Rodney disclosed.

The comedian added that, each time Goodridge got into a tantrum, she would make reference to burning down the whole yard or the entire Waterloo Street.

It was of one of her tantrums that caused him to return to the Police Station on Sunday after Goodridge began a tirade of verbal abuse.

“No one takes her on but, at that stage, she was getting overbearing. I have a three-year-old granddaughter and, at that age, children repeat what they hear and I was very upset when the child started repeating the expletives she heard,” Rodney said.

He said, up to when he made the last report, the police did not react.

“This house would not have been destroyed. She was right there Sunday night when I called and no Police came,” Rodney reiterated.

BORROWED CLOTHES
He bemoaned the loss of everything in his home as he wore borrowed clothes.

“Last night (Tuesday night), I was at a Link Show script writing meeting and later left there for home. At home, I was using the computer after my daughter finished her Information Technology assignment.

“Most of the people at home were retiring to bed. I heard a crackling sound and thought it was rain. But it was not. I realised it was smoke and saw fire out of the corner of my eye. When I looked, the steps were engulfed already. I couldn’t go to get water. I raised an alarm and tried to get everyone out. I felt heat, the floor was hot so I told everybody to get out.

“I couldn’t get anything. When we tried to get out, we were greeted by thick smoke. I told them to cover the baby’s face and we all ran,” he related.

“The woman is a devil,” Rodney declared, referring to the suspect.

Other residents concurred that the woman was unstable.

Sixty-nine-year-old Carmen Morrison said, thankfully, the only damage to her house
was caused by water the firemen used.

“She was a demon,” said the sexagenarian, describing Goodridge. “It’s not today story. It has been years that we put up with her. She would argue until two or three in the morning. She was not a nice person.”

Morrison said Goodridge’s unruly conduct was responsible for her sister, Dolphine Joseph, requesting her removal from the property.

Joseph resides in the United States and was lauded as a peaceable person, exactly the opposite of her sister who, allegedly, also abused illegal drugs.

Another neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous, proffered that the request to vacate the property is possibly the reason Goodridge burnt the place.

“The last thing she told me and a friend, on Tuesday, was that we won’t be seeing her anymore. We joked and asked her if her papers came through. Then, a few minutes after, we heard shouts of fire,” the woman said, stating it was tragic that nothing was saved.

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