A fire, two deaths and rebuilding lives

Dec 25, 2012 News

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By Leonard Gildarie

Having been in the media business for awhile, there are few things that can surprise me anymore.
The very nature of the work makes you tough as nails. The death, the tears, the destruction can become too much. In the middle of the madness, a few things remain very clear and constant. A single moment can forever change one’s circumstances and perception.
I can recall quite vividly earlier this year, and can say it will remain with me for some time, receiving news that my neighbour died after a motorcycle accident on Vlissengen Road in the vicinity

of the Botanical Gardens.
He left his young wife and two boys behind – boys who were forced to grow up all too suddenly, doing a man’s job around the home and not even having enough time to grieve. It is a difficult thing to bear… the look in their eyes…and Christmas is here again.
It will never be the same for them.
On April 11 this year, another La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara family suffered a tragedy that within a few hours of anguish left two children dead and their home in ashes. None of the seven children she was caring for were hers. It dramatically changed the life of 39-year-old Roxanne Douglas, and the children living with her… at least those that remained.
Now, she is slowly rebuilding, her shoulders are a little more square and she is determined.
Her story is a remarkable of courage and a die-hard attitude. Yet speaking of her hardships of losing her home and two children she was caring for, that hard exterior showed signs of cracks, with the tears.
Seated now in her half-finished home, she struggled with the memories.

Hardship
Roxanne was one of nine children – seven boys…she was the eldest girl.
It was hard for the Corentyne, Berbice girl. Some days, she was forced to walk 10-12 miles from school because of little money and no transportation. Her big brother toiled and sent her to school.
She eventually came to town and stayed with her aunt in South Ruimveldt.
“Aunt Nan…everybody went by her. She was kind and there were gatherings and I guess this was what pushed me to always help. My family stands by each other.”

Roxanne managed to get hired by Republic Bank where she worked her way up for a number of years.
It was in 2007 that her life changed significantly. Her sister died. She lost her job at the bank. She also was recently divorced.
Roxanne was left to look after the two kids, Andrea, 10, and Andre 13.
Her eldest brother, in the meantime, became partially incapacitated, losing three fingers. He was also a single parent of three. They were also taken in by Roxanne.
“You see, I am a strong Christian. I believe in not putting myself first and these kids needed help. My brother, my family was there for me and it was natural that I be there for them.”
She also took in two more nephews, including Alonso, 7, who was staying at one time at an orphanage.
It was a tough time but Roxanne was getting some financial help from her brothers and from a little shop she had at her home.
“My big brother lost three fingers, but still would work as a driver on a minibus.”
Roxanne was also Chairperson for the Parent/Teacher Association of La Parfaite Harmonie Primary School. She was juggling time with the children, the PTA and her church – Brickdam Cathedral – where she was part of the choir.
She was also struggling with the fact that Andrea had been diagnosed with heart problems.
“She had an enlarged heart. We had to monitor her food, blood pressure and make sure that she did not exert herself too much.”
In the meantime, Roxanne remained single, and focused on her task of caring for the children.

Tragedy
That changed on the evening of April 11, 2012. Never in the habit of leaving the seven children alone too long, Roxanne had taken one of them to Georgetown to attend the wake of a close family friend.
Left at home were her 42-year-old brother, David, and six of the children.
It was between 19:30-20:00 hrs while preparing to return home that she got the most dreaded of calls. A neighbour said that her house was on fire.
“It did not register right away. I guess I was in shock. I told my friend and then called another neighbour and they confirmed it. I could not ride back on my motorbike and my friend had to give me a lift.”
According to Roxanne, she was praying for children. “After I confirmed that there was a fire, I prayed. I said God, please take care of them.”

It was while crossing the bridge that she got another call and knew something was even more horribly wrong.
Her worst fears were confirmed when she arrived at the Middle Dam home which was on flames.
Little Andrea and Alonso had been left trapped in the home and were feared dead.
“It was hardest time in my life.”
It was her brother, Andre, who broke one of the windows and led the scared children out. His sister, fearful of the flames, had run back to one of the rooms and became trapped.
Alonso, it is believed, was asleep and never knew what happened. Some of the children received burns.The entire home was gone. It is believed that one of the children left a lighted candle and this started the deadly blaze.
It was hard for Roxanne in the days after. She and the boys were forced to sleep by the neighbours in the nights and clean up during the day.
The funeral service of the two children was held in the remains of the gutted home. But there was help for the family. The funeral parlour took care of the expenses and Food for the Poor and the Guyana Relief Council chipped in with mattresses and utensils and even clothes.

 

More hardship
“The nights that followed were the hardest. For one, the rains came down and sleeping was a problem. The children did not attend school for over a month because of clothes and books. They fell back a bit, but the school understood.”
She owed the bank for her home, but the insurance company pushed through the claim and soon the mortgage was paid off.
“I did not have too much money left back…a few hundred thousand, and this has helped me to build back. My father, my brothers and others also helped to rebuild. On many nights because of no lights, we used lights from the cell phones to do work. I even learnt how to do plumbing.”
In the meantime, her brothers have started a vulcanizing business and Roxanne had rebuilt her shop. The upstairs is still unfinished, but downstairs is habitable.
“Life will never be the same again,” she says.”Sometimes it is so hard after working all day. I want to give up. I cry but I don’t allow them to see.”
The children too remained affected. Little Andre, first dealing with the loss of his mother and now the fire and death of his sister would sometimes “be in another world. I would talk to him and he is lost.”
Some of the children have moved away, but three of them have remained with Roxanne.
This Christmas, it will be much harder for Roxanne who is one of the teachers of a government’s reading programme. At the time of writing, she has not been paid for three months. She was called yesterday midday to collect payments. She has also worked on the recent census. They texted her yesterday for the money.
“The children have been asking when we’re going shopping. I can’t go for it. The rain is falling. We will try. It is Christmas. Believe me, I am thankful.”

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