Following the devastating fire which claimed the lives of a small family of three and left at least 28 others homeless, the surviving families yesterday told Stabroek News that they are still adjusting to their losses while laying their loved ones to rest.
Dawall Ifill, 15; his mother, Beverly Miller, 40; and his step-father, Marvin Lewis, 46; succumbed to smoke inhalation after they were trapped in their apartment complex at E Half Sixth Street, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara. It has been alleged that the fire was set by a relative of their landlord who was subsequently arrested and later released on bail after no charge was put against him.
Leon Richmond, one of the tenants who resided at the apartment complex at Cummings Lodge said that while his reputed wife and her children are still staying with her sister at La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, he is currently with relatives at Atlantic Ville, East Coast Demerara. The family has been afforded shelter by relatives since the night of the fire on June 27. At the time he spoke with this newspaper, he said that Desiree Miller, his reputed wife as well as the sister and aunt of two of the deceased – Beverly and Dawall, were at the village office trying to get death certificates for the deceased to be buried. He informed that they are expected to be buried sometime this week.
He also said that persons have reached out to the extended family to assist but they are waiting calls for those persons to call them back.
The son and brother of Beverley and Dawall, Alani Ifill, is also staying with his aunts at La Parfaite Harmonie.
Lewis’ sister also lived at the apartment complex with her family.
Speaking to Stabroek News on Tuesday, Coretta Woolford said that her brother was buried last Friday at Mahaicony. Woolford said that she and her family are currently seeking shelter at a house owned by the father of her children and right now they are trying to cope with everything that has happened. She also said that she is currently unemployed.
The Sunday after the fire occurred, she was contacted by Stabroek News and had said that she would normally sell at the National Park, but since the park was closed due to COVID-19, she was selling in front of the apartment complex. But now, she is once again without a place to conduct her business.
Sonia Allen, another tenant, is staying at a relative’s house in Campbellville, Georgetown. She along with her brother and her three daughters have been staying there since the night their home was destroyed.
She said that the fire has cost her a lot of since she had digital appliances and furniture which she has yet to finish paying for that were destroyed in the fire. On Tuesday, she said, Courts Guyana informed her that the burnt items were not insured and as such she still has to pay off for the furniture. However, the landlord’s relatives contacted her and returned her security deposit of $30,000, which she had requested.
Asked about how her young children are coping, she said that they have been doing much better. However, she admitted that she could not exactly relate how it has affected her daughter who was preparing to sit the National Grade Six Assessment just three days after the fire. “I really can’t say because we did taking on and everything was a little bit hard on her. At least she write it but we don’t know what school she would be getting [as yet].” The woman said that some of her daughter’s classmates donated two school uniforms for her to attend the exam and for this she said she is very grateful. Additionally, persons have also contacted her and have been donating clothes and other essentials to them, she informed.
Another tenant who has been displaced is Vanessa Beckles. Contacted on Tuesday she said that she is staying at the Georgetown Public Hospital staff quarters, as she is a nurse. She said that the Guyana Relief Council has so far reached out to help her.
Persons wishing to assist any of these families can contact Coretta Woolford at 670-7577, Leon Richmond at 669-3873, Vanessa Beckles at 685-4255, and Sonia Allen at 666-7141.
