Sascha Wilson
Senior Reporter
sascha.wilson@guardian.co.tt
“Everything I loss,” lamented 74-year-old pensioner Henry Dick as he looked at the ruins of his home in San Fernando following a fire which he believed was deliberately set.
Dick spent the night by a neighbour, while his five tenants, including a child, who lived in two apartments downstairs, were also left homeless.
Recalling the ordeal, Dick said his cousin left his home at Moody Stewart Street around 9.15 pm on Tuesday. Shortly after, he was about to sleep when he heard a noise.
“I heard like something fall in gallery like a plastic bottle or something. I put on the light and when I do so, the front door is fire. From the front door, it take the curtain and that take it right through.”
Dick said there was nothing he could have done to save his home or belongings as the fire spread rapidly. He was forced to exit through the back step. He said the tenants escaped unhurt.
While he believes the fire was deliberately set, he had no idea why someone would target his home, as he has no enemies or disagreements with anyone.
Dick said the house belonged to his grandparents, but he had lived there for more than 60 years. He lived alone on the upper floor of the house.
Over the last few years, Dick has suffered other tragedies with the death of two sons – one died in 2019 from covid19 and the other from Leukemia in January.
His only surviving child lives in Sangre Grande.
Clueless as to where he would be staying or how he would rebuild his home, he said any assistance would be appreciated.
“I not seeing Christmas. I see myself out of a home and loss everything. Not even a dollar I come out with,” he said.
Dick also claimed the firefighters had insufficient water, but Assistant Chief Fire Officer South Mukharji Rampersad denied this.
He said after the main fire was extinguished, small pockets of fire were observed, so the crew went to refill and then returned.
They also returned yesterday morning after receiving a report that the fire had reignited.
While Guardian Media was there, Dick was visited by Councillor John Michael Ali Bocas, the Shadow MP for San Fernando East, who promised to liaise with the relevant Government ministers to assist him.
When contacted, San Fernando East MP Brian Manning said he had provided assistance to the occupants of the house even before the fire.
Manning, however, assured that his office staff and the councillor for the area are working with the victims and guiding them through the due diligence process.
Fire officers had not yet determined the cause of the blaze.
Anyone willing to assist Dick could contact him at 750-1715.
