…remains of elderly man found in rubble after Friday blaze

THE charred remains of an elderly man suspected to be James Johnson of lots 40-41 Victoria Road, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was Saturday afternoon discovered by firefighters as they attempted to oust smoke from the location.

Johnson is believed to have perished in the fire which started at approximately 14:19hrs on Friday in an apartment complex at the said location. The apartment complex reportedly housed some 16 persons, most of whom were not at home at the time of the fire.
According to reports, the fire which gutted three buildings, one of which housed an old hotel which was converted to an apartment complex, left approximately 30 persons homeless.

It is believed that the fire started in the lower flat of the apartment complex as residents indicated that they saw smoke coming from the bottom flat before it quickly spread to the top and nearby buildings.
Residents described Johnson as a peaceful and friendly person.

“He would laugh and talk with everybody,” one resident said. The Guyana Chronicle understands that Johnson suffered from breathing problems and was not agile and as such, might have been trapped by the fire which spread quickly.
Another recalled that he was not always at his apartment, noting that he also stayed at his daughter’s home in Agricola, East Bank Demerara.
“He spent a few days by his daughter and returned here about two days before the fire,” the resident stated.

“My door is parallel to his door. Why I didn’t call on him yesterday morning is because I know he was sleeping and when he gets up he would leave his door half open… so I just had a bath and left for Mash, because I was a reveller.”
The elderly man is said to have a son who also resides in Plaisance. But the man, commonly called “Puri man,” had not been seen by residents for a few days.

ASSISTANCE
Meanwhile, Ministers of Natural Resources and Finance, Simona Broomes and Winston Jordan respectively, visited those affected by Friday’s fire and committed to providing assistance through government programmes.

Minister Jordan was seen comforting one of his staff, whose house was destroyed by the fire. The woman, Ronette Hetsberger-Murray, who is a Senior Economic and Financial Analyst at the Ministry of Finance, told reporters she was at home completing her chores Friday when she smelled smoke.

The woman said she checked the back of her house to see if one of her neighbours was burning bush or garbage, but did not see any evidence of that.
She said upon her return to the front of her home, she looked through the window and saw smoke emanating from the neighbouring apartment complex.

“I can’t put a figure to it… the building was built by my father and I would have extended it… it was built years ago,” she said, noting that she was able to save a few things.
“When I saw the fire coming from the roof, I tried to get the kids out, got the important documents, the car was in the yard, I removed it and I went back and tried to pick up what I could,” said Hetsberger-Murray.

The distraught woman told reporters that she lived in the upper flat of the concrete house with her husband and five children, while the lower flat was occupied by her brother, his wife and a cousin.
The interior of the house was completely destroyed, but the external structure was scarred and windows shattered.

“I am not thinking straight, but I know that there is God and he will make a way,” she said, as she contemplated starting over.
Meanwhile, Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources Simona Broomes, committed her government’s support to the fire victims, even as she donated much-needed items to the victims. The items, some of which were provided by members of the business community, were handed over to the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) for distribution.

GOV’T CARES
“Your government cares… your government will work with you… we are here for you through good times and bad,” said Broomes, who also warned against exploitation. She urged the fire victims to take up temporary accommodation at the four centres established through the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and the NDC.

“The Ministry of Social Protection is working on solutions – you have councillors here,” the minister stated, while noting that the representatives of the RDC will meet with Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally Monday to discuss the way forward.
Minister Broomes also announced that those who have lost their documents: TIN Certificate, National ID cards, birth and marriage certificates, driver’s licences and passports will be assisted with regaining same.

Similarly, Regional Vice-Chairman, Region Four, Earl Lambert, said the RDC has been working tirelessly to provide assistance to the victims of Friday’s fire. He said the RDC has a list of victims, and though not complete, is working to ensure that all affected can benefit from relief.

“We would have made provision for accommodation, lodging and food. We have the overseer and party representative coordinating things,” he said, noting that donations should be made to the NDC as proper records of the donated items must be kept.
The Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana Police Force are continuing their investigations into the cause of the fire.