A Bloomfield, East Berbice, family is sleeping in hammocks at their fire-damaged home after a Wednesday blaze destroyed the house and the mother's loan-funded vending stock.
Vendor Bhagwatie Ramcharan, 53, of Lot 127 Bloomfield, lived in the two-storey house with her husband, 38, a lorry driver, and their 35-year-old daughter, who lives with a disability. The property owner has reportedly asked them to leave, and they have nowhere else to stay.

Ramcharan told Ignite News she was packing laundry in the bottom flat shortly after 3pm when she noticed an unusual smell. She found nothing in the kitchen but discovered one of the upstairs rooms on fire.

"When I go upstairs, and the room point sparked plenty, so we got frightened and ran back down the steps. Me went to get my daughter and brought her outside. Me started hollering for people on the road by the bridge and me call 'ayo help me, ayo help me me house sparking fire,'" she recalled.
Residents raised the alarm and the fire service was called, but the flames had intensified and no one could re-enter the building.
The fire destroyed both flats, along with furniture, household items, valuables and much of the stock she sold at the Port Mourant Market. Ramcharan estimated the jewellery and money lost upstairs at about $2.5 million.

She had taken a loan to buy the stock and is worried about repaying it.
"That is what I am worried about. I don't know how things will work out. Whatever little help I can get, I can go back into my business and get to pay my money, me cam still live," she said.
Documents for a plot of land at Overwinning, East Bank Berbice, allocated to her, were also destroyed.

Asked about electrical problems before the fire, Ramcharan said there were no major issues, although the voltage sometimes appeared to rise and fall.
She said she feels overwhelmed after years of working to give her family a comfortable life, and is appealing for help to replace stock and resume trading.
"Well we trying but things not reach to get something, I feel down yes but what can I do, no I don't have a bedroom anymore," she said.

Her daughter, who has seizures, is staying with a relative. Ramcharan and her husband remain at the property.
Persons wishing to assist the family can contact Ramcharan on 697-4894.

 

Bhagwatie Ramcharan