A family of three whose house was completely destroyed by an electrical fire in September recently received a donation of $3.2m from the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG).
Bibi Azima Azeem, 52, resided in the upper flat of the house located at Lot 30 Gay Park, with her mother, 70, while her brother, 38, resided in the lower flat.
She said, on September, 4, the day of the fire, she had just finished her prayers sometime after 6.30 pm, when she was informed that there was a fire in the lower flat.
“When I look over the front step there was a lot of black smoke downstairs and when I come half way from the step I saw sparks coming out”.
According to the woman, she along with several neighbours began calling the New Amsterdam Fire Station but “they did not answer their phone”.
“Then we call the New Amsterdam Police Station and they said the fire service on their way. So when the fire service bank the street the fire still did not touch my upstairs yet but they took 15 to 20 minutes to get water and that when the entire house destroyed”.
Azeem said that she has since been told by the fire service that the fire is suspected to be of electrical origin and started from a bedroom in the lower flat. “They said it’s electrical but what caused the fire is unknown”.
The woman stressed that she estimated her losses to be about $20m since both flats were fully furnished.
Meanwhile, senior members of CIOG along with Region Six’s Chairman, David Armogan and Vice Chairman, Zamal Hussain visited Azeem where a handing over was done.
Sheikh Moen ul-Hack, Head of CIOG, said, “We are pleased to be here this morning to render assistance to our sister who lost her home by fire some weeks and CIOG as you are aware has always been involved in humanitarian work”.
He stressed, that “CIOG will continue to play its part and complement the efforts of the government and the regional officers to bring assistance to the people of our country irrespective of race and religion”.
After the handing over, Azeem told Stabroek News, “I feel relieved for the support because I lost everything I worked my entire life for”.
Azeem, who was laid off from the Rose Hall Estate due to the closure, has since been rehired by the estate as a senior bookkeeper. The estate is in the process of being reopened.
She said that she had sent out a number of applications after she was laid off but was never able to secure any other employment, as such she is extremely grateful for the reopening of the estate.
“When I lost my job I felt like the world had ended and no matter where you made an application nobody would employ you, and now I feel very happy that I get back a job”.
She added, “No matter if is a few dollars, I know at the end of the month is a few dollars I’m getting”.
