SHASTRI BOODAN
Four families who lost a place to live when a fire gutted their apartment building are appealing for assistance.
Spokesman Kumar Roopnarine, said around 11 persons are affected, including 3 children.
70-year-old Roopnarine told Guardian Media the blaze took place on Sunday around 5 am. The fire razed the top floor of the house that was built in 1965 at Perseverance Village, Chaguanas. The damage is so extensive, Roopnarine said, that the entire structure has to be demolished.
Roopnarine said T&TEC and the electrical inspectorate visited the structure on Monday and determined that an electrical short circuit was the cause of the blaze.
Guardian Media understands the occupants of the building have since sought refuge with their neighbours and most of them are part-time workers who are without enough to eat.
Wendy Francis, the Local Government Representative on the Chaguanas Borough Corporation, said food items were provided to the victims. However, she said this may only last a couple of weeks, depending on how sparingly the supplies are used.
“I visited the site on Sunday, and we brought some relief items and mattresses and food items. We are appealing to members of the public to make some donations to the victims since many of them earn very little. We have sent in the relevant paperwork to the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services for assistance,” Francis said, “but this takes such a long time to processed.”
Councillor Francis says she can be contacted at 287-9908 if anyone is willing to assist the now homeless families, in whatever little way they can.
