Corinth house fire victims living in wreckage

With the help of workers at the Princes Town Regional Corporation and fire officers, the Rajoon family from Corinth have removed the debris from their house. But they are not moving out.

On June 22, a fire destroyed the family’s three-bedroom house at Ethon Lane, a Housing Development Corporation (HDC) settlement, on the outskirts of San Fernando.

Grace Rajoon said, "I am still traumatised over this. I can hardly eat properly. I cannot focus right now. Our clothes are in garbage bags. The wardrobe and everything burned up."

Rajoon, 46, her husband Darren, 53, and six children, between 21 and eight, have nowhere to go. They decided to clean up and remain in the damaged building.

"Two walls in the living room area are badly damaged. But we are not going to that part of the house. If we get materials to fix up the house, that would be great.

"The fire destroyed all the windows, and some fell," Rajoon said. "I like this area and prefer to stay here. It is a good location. But if we get help and we have to go, we would."

Members of the public have been dropping off food and clothing for the family.

She said the family also got hampers from the office of the MP for San Fernando East, Brian Manning, and councillor for Corinth/Cedar Hill Shawn Premchand.

Officials from the HDC took information from the family.

"I have not gone to HDC for help," said Rajoon, "but the people who came promised to get back to us."

She and her husband run a roadside fruit stall nearby.

Premchand said he had been liaising with HDC officials, as well as someone from the Social Development Ministry, on behalf of the family.

"My group (Corinth/Cedar Hill Co-ordinating Committee) has been providing food hampers to the family, and we are getting some utensils for them. From the corporation, we were able to give them mattresses as well," Premchand said.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

Many years ago, the Rajoons were victims of a flood when they lived at Bajnath Street in Penal. They moved to Corinth about nine years ago.

Anyone who wants to help the family can call 368-1015.