AT least 11 persons are now homeless, with one being temporarily housed at the Parika Police Station, after he allegedly torched the home of Sharon Samuels and her nine children at Roden Lust, Parika, shortly after noon yesterday. The wooden building was razed and nothing was saved, leaving millions of dollars in losses.

According to a report made by the woman, around 12:30 hrs yesterday, her reputed husband, Nigel Armstrong, with whom she had a misunderstanding, visited her at her place of work, the Parika Primary School and used threatening behaviour to her. He vowed he’d burn her house down. The woman apparently did not take him seriously and he left after causing her much embarrassment.

About two hours after he left the school compound, Samuels received a report that her house was on fire. She hurried home to find the building well alight and the fire raging out of control.

The police pursued the man and took him into custody.  Charges are to be laid later.

When this newspaper visited the scene last evening, the area was pitch black and no one was around. All that was left of the building were the smouldering embers. The children had already sought refuge elsewhere, while their mother was at the Parika Police Station, making a report.