An investigation into the recent fire at the Shaheed Girls Orphanage at Oleander Gardens, on the East Coast of Demerara, has determined that the building was deliberately set alight.
A source familiar with the findings of the Guyana Fire Service investigation told Stabroek News that the investigators were able to conclude that the fire was set on the bottom flat of the eastern side of the building. This report was handed over to the police and an investigation is underway.
At about 6 am on October 20th, the two-storey Lot 7-8 Oleander Gardens building, which housed 18 girls and their caretaker, was reduced to ashes as a result of a fire.
Caretaker Shanti Pooran, 59, was alerted by an orphan of smoke emanating from the upper flat of the building.
Pooran raised an alarm after she was alerted about the fire and the Guyana Fire Service and police were summoned.
The building, which was not insured, housed the living quarters and prayer room on the upper flat and a kitchen and dining area on the lower flat.
From initial investigations, it was determined that the fire was not electrical in origin.
“There were several theories or several bits of information that were given by the occupants of the building. At different points in the day, this information seems to be changing significantly… but what we know for sure at this point in time is that the fire is not electrical, which is one of the notions they are trying to put forward,” a source had explained.
