No home for the holidays

ON Christmas Day, residents of Concerned Citizen Street in California, Couva, would normally spend time with their families making their favourite dishes and decorating their homes.

However, with 19 people homeless because of a fire which destroyed six houses, on December 13, families spent the holiday separately. With limited housing space from friends and families, most of the victims said they had no other choice than to split up.

“Right now I am renting from a neighbour. This year I did not get a chance to bake ham, paint the house or anything. My two boys are with other relatives for the holiday. We lost everything in the fire,” said Kafie Noel, 24.

The former security guard is seeking employment and has dropped off resumes to a fast food outlet, a supermarket and a bakery.

Good Samaritans distributed food on Tuesday to the victims who are staying in homes close to where the fire occurred.

Anderson Ashton, 50, said his family received an outpouring support from the public in terms of food and clothing. But he hopes to start rebuilding soon.

He lives with his wife and their three children, ages 12, 10, and five.

“I am staying by a neighbour right now. My wife and children are with her family. We got plenty of clothes and food. Once we get the fire reports and some help, we will start to rebuild,” Ashton told Newsday.

Nisa Harry, 27, who delivered a healthy baby boy named Messiah William, via Caesarean section last Wednesday, said she had a “quiet Christmas”. Her family is staying at the home of relatives and she plans to revisit the Housing Development Corporation's (HDC) headquarters in Port of Spain.

“Some people brought baby clothes and other items. People also promise to help. I will be going by HDC very soon because we need a place to stay,” Harry said.

She lives with her common-law husband, Kiel Williams, 32, a mechanic, and their nine-year-old autistic daughter Nakiya Williams.

Nineteen-year-old Angie Johnson is expecting her first child on March 29, next year. Like Harry, she lost everything in the fire. “The crib, playpen, everything went. We need the help.”

Her mother Velda “Kay” Cadet, 48, said she lost two puppies and five chickens in the fire.

“We normally spend the Christmas in our own homes. But this year it is different. We don’t have a home. I have a 15-year-old son and a five-year-old grandson who also live with me. We are glad for the help but we also need a house,” Cadet said.

The fire broke out at around midday, on December 13, in an abandoned wooden house in the squatting community. The flames quickly spread and destroyed the six houses before Couva fire officers arrived.

Councillor Ramchand Rajbal-Maharaj said the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation and the Couva/Point Lisas Chamber of Commerce are working together to assist the fire victims.

Residents thanked Rajbal-Maharaj and the corporation for assisting. Some of the burnt debris was already cleared and the councillor called on the business community to assist in the rebuilding process.