Social Protection Ministry donates to West Berbice fire victims

DPI, Guyana, Friday, October 19, 2018

The Ministry of Social Protection, on Thursday, handed over household items to a West Coast Berbice family rendered homeless by a fire on Wednesday evening.

The relief items include kitchen utensils, a mattress, bed sheets and pillows, a wheelchair for an elderly victim and foodstuff.

The Ministry’s Technical Officer, who is based in Region Five, Mabiola Howard handed over the items to Sandra Grant, who along with eight others, lived in the house at Number 40 Village.

Also, present were Administrative Assistant of the Ministry of Social Protection, Colleen Fredericks, Member of Parliament, Jennifer Wade and District Community Development Officer in Region 5, Carol Nurse. Grant, who is a councillor in the Seafield/Tempie Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC), expressed gratitude for the support given by the ministry.

Up to yesterday, the cause of the blaze was unknown. Residents managed to rescue an elderly woman who is bed-ridden. They also helped to save some of the items in the house before being forced to back away from the intense blaze.

Residents commended the quick response from the Guyana Fire Service based at Onverwagt, also in West Coast Berbice, for their efforts in preventing the fire from spreading to other houses in the vicinity.

Story and Image: Clifford Stanley