[UPDATED] Flood victims now fire victims at Corinth Hills

A fire on Tuesday night at Corinth Hills on the outskirts of San Fernando has left a family of eight homeless. It also claimed the life of a pet parrot named Cookie.

No one was at home when the fire broke out at the three-bedroom house at Ethon Lane, a Housing Development Corporation (HDC) settlement.

Grace Rajoon, 46, recalled that around 7 pm on Tuesday, the family left to buy some produce at Debe junction. Rajoon and her husband Darren, 53, run a market stall at the roadside nearby.

At 8.45 pm the family returned, she said. The house was engulfed in flames, and police and fire officers were there.

Also homeless are their children, 21, 19, 18, 14, 11 and eight.

"The children went to Debe with us. I paid for the goods thinking I was going to sell them today (Wednesday) to make a dollar – and look what happened," Rajoon said as she looked at the ruins of the house. "We lost everything.

"We cannot say how it started. We spent the night with neighbours. Cookie (parrot) died and Rico (another parrot) got slight burns but survived."

The Rajoons were flood victims who previously lived at Bajnath Street in Penal. Rajoon said the family lived with her in-laws downstairs in a plywood apartment.

About 13 years ago, the rain started falling heavily and continuously one day. The water lever rose waist-height and flooded the entire apartment, near a river.

It was the first major flood the family had experienced.

The Rajoons were unable to save anything. That same year, Rajoon and her husband, who previously worked as a lorry man, applied to the HDC for a house.

The couple believes that land development in the area at the time contributed significantly to the major flood.

“People were clearing land, so there was nothing to hold back the water. The water rushed down and flooded us out. We couldn’t save anything. We were trying to pick up the pieces from that flood. About three or four years later, we got through with the HDC house,” Darren said.

Rajoon added, “When we came here about nine years ago, we came with nothing. We used to sleep on the floor, but we fight and fight to buy things, and now fire destroyed everything.”

Rajoon said after the first year, the electricity was disconnected as the family was in arrears. Since then, the house had been without electricity.

The family, she said, does not have money to pay for the reconnection. On Tuesday, when the family left for Debe, she said there were no lamps lit.

Rajoon said the family intends to seek help for housing from the HDC again.

Councillor for Corinth/Cedar Hill, Princes Town, Shawn Premchand, and other Princes Town Regional Corporation officials visited the family.

Premchand told Newsday on Wednesday, "I have been liaising with the office of the MP for San Fernando East, and we are trying to assist the family. The family is in critical need of clothes, food, and a place to stay at this time.

"Through the corporation, we can help with the hampers. Through my organisation, the Corinth/Cedar Hill Co-ordinating Committee, we are doing lunches for the family."

He also appealed to the public to help the family in whatever way they can.

The cost of the damage and the cause of the fire are yet to be determined.

Southern Division police and Mon Repos fire officers are investigating.

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

A fire on Tuesday night at Corinth Hills on the outskirts of San Fernando has left a family of eight homeless. It also claimed the life of a pet parrot named Cookie.

No one was at home when the fire broke out at the three-bedroom house at Ethon Lane, a Housing Development Corporation (HDC) settlement.

Grace Rajoon, 46, recalled that around 7 pm on Tuesday, the family left to buy some produce at Debe junction. Rajoon and her husband Darren, 53, run a market stall at the roadside nearby.

At 8.45 pm the family returned, she said. The house was engulfed in flames, and police and fire officers were there.

Also homeless are their children, 21, 19, 18, 14, 11 and eight.

"The children went to Debe with us. I paid for the goods thinking I was going to sell them today (Wednesday) to make a dollar – and look what happened," Rajoon said as she looked at the ruins of the house. "We lost everything.

"We cannot say how it started. We spent the night with neighbours. Cookie (parrot) died and Rico (another parrot) got slight burns but survived."

Grace Arjoon inside her burnt home in Corinth, San Fernando home on Wednesday. Photo by Angelo MarcelleThe Rajoons were flood victims who previously lived in Penal. With the help of the HDC, the family moved into the Corinth Hills house about nine years ago.

Rajoon said after the first year, the electricity was disconnected as the family was in arrears. Since then, the house had been without electricity.

On Tuesday, when the family left for Debe, she said there were no lamps lit.

Rajoon said the family intends to seek help for housing from the HDC again.

Councillor for Corinth/Cedar Hill, Princes Town, Shawn Premchand, and other Princes Town Regional Corporation officials visited the family.

Premchand told Newsday on Wednesday, "I have been liaising with the office of the MP for San Fernando East, and we are trying to assist the family. The family is in critical need of clothes, food, and a place to stay at this time.

"Through the corporation, we can help with the hampers. Through my organisation, the Corinth/Cedar Hill Co-ordinating Committee, we are doing lunches for the family."

He also appealed to the public to help the family in whatever way they can.

The cost of the damage and the cause of the fire are yet to be determined. Southern Division police and Mon Repos fire officers are investigating.