A New Amsterdam, Berbice family is now mourning the loss of their matriarch after the 58-year-old woman was trapped in her burning house yesterday morning. Everything in the house – a two-storey with three bedrooms upstairs and two bedrooms downstairs was completely destroyed by the fire – with only the shell left standing.
Dead is Sharon Austin, 58, of Lot 2137 St Magdalene Street, New Amsterdam.
The woman’s daughter, Police Corporal in charge of the Reliance Police Station, Brenda Onieka Johnson, explained that she resided in the bottom flat of the building with her four children ages; 20, 17, 14, and 7, while her mother, stepfather and brother resided in the upper flat of the building.