Berbice woman dies after setting house on fire
A Number 64 Village Corentyne Berbice family remains in a state of shock after a 36-year-old mother of four Monday afternoon set their house on fire, reportedly in a drunken state, and was burnt to death.
Dead is Sabita Sooknanan, also known as ‘Tina.’
The News Room understands that the woman reportedly started the fire in the upper flat of her house at around 16:00hrs and then told a neighbour to inform her husband what she did.
Her burnt remains were discovered in the veranda while the fire also scorched a nearby house.
The neighbour, who was sitting on her bridge, noted that she immediately called on Sooknanan’s 11-year-old daughter who ran upstairs and saw smoke.
The child then informed her father who was constructing a house in the same village.
The husband, 42-year-old Jairam Sooknanan, who works as a carpenter and part-time hire car driver, said when he arrived at the scene, the entire upper flat of the house was already engulfed in flames and residents had formed a bucket brigade.
The distraught man only managed to remove his fielder wagon, HC 9458 that was parked underneath the house.
According to Mr Sooknanan, his wife attempted to set the house on fire twice in 2016 but neighbours intervened and saved the building.
He claimed that he and his wife did not have any conflict or argument before he left for work Monday morning but noted that she always threatened to burn the house whenever she is intoxicated.
Residents in the area confirmed that the woman would usually imbibe and behave irrationally and they saw her consuming alcohol Monday.
Their two minor children resided at the house while the eldest reside overseas.