A COCONUT tree from a neighbour’s yard came crashing down on Saturday night, damaging the roof of Andre Alfred’s house at Lot 69 Cross Street, Alexander Village.

Alfred told this publication yesterday that he was at home when the incident happened and it could have been avoided because he had made numerous complaints to the relevant authorities to have the matter addressed but to no avail.

He pondered, “If that tree had fallen on someone, resulting in the loss of a life.”

Alfred stated that the coconut tree from his next door neighbour’s yard fell onto his roof and damaged his two-storey wooden house at about 19:30 hours on Saturday night.

He explained that for several years he was concerned about the tree being so close to his house and had even asked the neighbour to cut it.

Alfred said that now he is in a lot of expense to fix his house after the damage caused by the falling tree. He observed that the neighbours were in the habit of disposing of their refuse by burning it at the base of the coconut tree. And this practice caused the coconut tree to become weak over time and so it fell onto his house, causing much terror for his family.

The man added that on many occasions the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) had to be summoned at the neighbour’s place to douse the flames from the raging garbage heaps that would get out of control.

Alfred said up to yesterday afternoon he had to seek assistance in cutting up the coconut tree and removing it from his premises.

(By Michel Outridge)