Fmr. Foreign Minister rescued from burning house

Former Guyanese Foreign Minister, 90-year-old Rashleigh Jackson had to be rescued from his Jackson Avenue Republic Park, East Bank Demerara house Wednesday after a fire of unknown origin erupted at around 12 noon.

The News Room understands that the former Government Minister was transported to a city hospital after he inhaled a lot of smoke.

A neighbour, who prefers to remain anonymous, told the News Room that she was tending to her garden when she noticed smoke emanating from the back of Mr Jackson’s house.

She raised an alarm and heard Mr Jackson coughing; the neighbour then solicited the help of others in the community and they broke the elderly man’s bedroom window in the top flat of the house to rescue him.

Firefighters arrived at the scene and it appears as if the fire is under control.

The house did not appear to suffer extensive damage.

Mr Jackson served as minister with responsibility for foreign affairs under the People’s National Congress (PNC) Administration in 1978 until 1990 when he resigned.

He also served as Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN).