Hours after her home burnt down in what police suspect to be an arson attack, grandmother Asha Ramroop received death threats.In an interview yesterday, Ramroop said a man called her about 5 pm to say he wished she had perished in the blaze, which left 11 people homeless at Ridgewood Gardens, Golconda."I want the police to investigate this because this is not the first time that he threatened me. He said before that he will burn down the house," Ramroop said.
Since the fire, Ramroop said, she had received an outpouring of support from her family and friends. On Monday afternoon, Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal arranged for Ramroop's family, as well as Diane Burke and her husband Gerard Burke who lived in an apartment adjoining Ramroop's, to stay at apartments in Corinth Settlement for the next three months. However, Ramroop said, she was praying that the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) would rebuild her duplex home.
"I don't want to move from Golconda. I love it here," she said, gazing at her pruned garden, untouched by the blaze. She said when she got the HDC apartment in 2010, she spent more than $200,000 to build a fence, garage and improve the toilets, floors and ceiling."I have invested in this place and I want to stay here," she added.
Despite the threats, Ramroop said, she was hoping that her family could rebuild their lives. She said on Monday night she could not sleep thinking about her losses.
"I kept thinking about what my life was and how far we have come. It is only now that I started to rebuild my life," Ramroop said. She also said she was grateful that nobody was hurt in the fire. Ramroop thanked Asauph Ghany, manager of the People Issues Resolution Co-ordinating Unit in the Ministry of the People who gave the family a hamper and a temporary food card valued at $700. He said the displaced homeowners would also qualify to get a grant to replace their furniture.
Ghany said Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who is also Minister of the People, had extended her condolences to the family.Meanwhile, the Burkes said, they had managed to save some items from the fire. Diane said some of their possessions were stored at the homes of other relatives and friends. She also said she had not slept on Monday night.