… Plaisance fire victims thankful for special efforts

MINISTER of Social Protection, Amna Ally on Monday made good on government’s promise to deliver much-needed aid to the Plaisance fire victims, who were displaced and lost all their worldly possessions when a blaze of unknown origin ripped through an apartment building and nearby buildings on Mashramani Day.

The minister was accompanied by regional officials, including Regional Chairwoman, Genevieve Allen, who assisted her in handing over the donations of beds, mattresses, cash vouchers and kitchen utensils.

Minister Ally, in brief remarks, said that her presence there was to reach out to the persons affected by the conflagration and to lend support and expressed government’s condolences on the passing of the elderly man, James Johnson, whose remains were found among the debris the day after the fire.

She said, “It was a sad day when I got the news about the fire and sometimes we have to expect the unexpected just like a day like Mashramani when many of you (residents) were out on the road having a good time.”

Minister Ally, however, expressed sadness at the loss of life, stating that material things could be replaced but a life cannot be replaced, as such it was sad indeed that someone perished in that fire which has left more than a dozen persons displaced.

She related that though Minister Simona Broomes and Minister Winston Jordan visited the fire scene and spoke to fire victims, she was there to make donations after she had some time to put things together.

Ally said, “I know what we are giving today might not be much, but we tried our best to make some things available for you today to bring relief, to assist.”

The minister said that that blaze caused six families to become homeless, a total of 40 persons were displaced and 13 individuals lost their homes.

She stated that her presence at the Plaisance Secondary School was to hand over donations to the six families which include beds, mattresses, kitchen utensils and stoves.

In addition, Minister Ally said that all individuals would receive food vouchers for Nigel’s Supermarket where they could get food items to the value specified.

The six families were also given cash which will allow them to rent an apartment for the meantime and a ‘mixed’ package with items to help them get started.

She pointed out that all the families would have to account for the cash.

One of the beneficiaries, a seamstress who lost her sewing machines among all her possessions in the Mash Day fire at Victoria Road, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, said she was thankful for government’s intervention.

Robena Glasgow said the cash would go towards buying a sewing machine so she could work again and that was a good start.

Ronette Hetsberger told the Guyana Chronicle that she was pleased and the cash would assist her in sending her three school-aged children to school.