A family of five returned from an Easter weekend trip to Berbice to find their three-bedroom home at 43 West Watooka, Wismar, completely gutted by fire, leaving them with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
The blaze broke out at approximately 2:00 a.m. on Easter Sunday, destroying the home valued at approximately $25 million. Nastasia Allicock, 33, said she, her husband, and their three children had travelled to Berbice on Friday morning after church and were away when the fire occurred. The blaze was first spotted by a cousin who lives nearby.
“We left Friday morning after church to go to Berbice. Everything was okay Friday and Saturday, but Sunday morning it start,” Allicock said.
She noted that the only appliance left plugged in was the refrigerator, and that her father routinely checked on the property daily. The Guyana Fire Service has listed the cause of the fire as undetermined.
The loss has been devastating for the family, particularly as the home had only recently been refurbished in December following years of hard work and sacrifice.
“The house didn’t come easy, it’s years I worked to bring it to that standard,” Allicock said.
Adding to the heartbreak, nearly $450,000 in cash was also destroyed in the blaze — including personal savings, money she was holding on behalf of a box hand, and her son’s savings — along with jewellery and other valuables.
“Almost $450,000 burn up in the fire because my son had his money saving and jewellery all burn up,” she said.
Despite the enormity of the loss, Allicock said the family is trying to hold themselves together and remain grateful.
“We trying to cope because what’s done is already done… we grateful for life,” she said.
The family is now seeking public assistance as they begin the difficult process of rebuilding. Persons wishing to help can contact Nastasia Allicock at 680-5658.
