Ten members of a Princes Town family are now homeless after fire destroyed their home on Saturday night. No one was around when the blaze started and fire officers arrived in time to save part of the house. Investigators said that around 6 pm, Mackeise Mohammed, 29, a fish vendor of Gordon Street, Buen Intento Road, Princes Town, was purchasing items from a nearby supermarket when he got a call that his house was on fire.
When he arrived, he saw the upper floor engulfed in flames. Mohammed's mother Ria, 43, said she was in Mayaro with her children Princess Johnson, 19, Elise Johnson, 18, Tonia Johnson, 16, Emmanuel Johnson, 14, daughter-in-law Susan Mathura and her son Judah Mohammed, aged five, when tragedy struck. Three other relatives Francina Johnson, 20, and her daughter Faith Mitchell, aged two, as well as cousin Richard Bellcom, were also left homeless. Ria said she was horrified when she heard the house was destroyed. She said Mohammed recently bought a stove, washing machine and couch set and was still paying for the items.
She said: "We coping by the grace of God. My son lost everything. I don't know how we going to live now because he was the sole breadwinner." She said her husband died six years ago and since then, Mohammed has been taking care of his siblings, his niece and son. She said they had no electricity at the time of the fire. She said she did not know what caused the blaze, but speculated that someone must have left a lamp lighting in the upstairs bedroom. Fire Prevention Officers are expected to return to the scene today. The burnt house was valued at more than $200,000. PC Wendell Manohar of the Princes Town Police Station is continuing investigations.
