At night, Khemrajie Kellawan sleeps at her daughter’s home but each day she is confronted by the dreaded reality that she remains homeless following a fire that recently gutted her Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home.
The family has been dwelling under a makeshift shed since the fire and they are seeking assistance to rebuild a home so their lives can return to normalcy soon.
During an interview with the News Room on Tuesday, Kellawan said she is finding it hard to cope since she has to take care of her husband who suffered a stroke three years ago.
Since then, the couple has been dependent on their 21-year-old son to provide for them.
“We badly in need fah get back ah home.
“Meh husband cant wuk. Me son does work… He is the only breadwinner fah this home. He is just 21. He have he whole life ahead fah go on with,” Kellawan said with tears settled in her eyes.
For the 50-year-old woman, rebuilding her home is a top priority right now but to do so she is pleading with members of the public for assistance.
The woman said she is without the necessary resources to cater to her desire.
“Where we go start. Which end we can start from. Yuh nah known which side fah start. Yuh just sit down every day and got fah wonder if something go fall in place fah yuh…We really, really ah plead…whoever can help us fah even put back a roof ova we head.
“Even if them nah help abe fah furnish back we home or wah we loss, leh them just build back we house leh abe get fah go in back and get one roof ova abe head…Just dah wah abe ah ask fah,” Kellawan explained to the News Room.
“Everybody who want to donate something or help me in anyways meh accept it. Meh accept in waheva way. It can be in wah way. Financial way, material way wateva meh accept it because me need it,” she pleaded.
According to Kellawan, the family had gathered in the yard for a get together when they were alerted of the fire. They managed to save nothing.
“Me nah gah none bed, me nah gah no mattrass.
“Meh want back a home because me nah comfortable living ah me daughter because ah meh sick husband…Meh son ah sleep pun a sofa he gah fah go to work. He ah come in 6 o’ clock in the afternoon, he gah fah lay down pun the sofa dah very hard…He nah get one comfortable rest,” she said.
The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) was summoned but Kellawan said they took some time to respond.
Relatives have since created a Go FundMe page to help raise funds for the family to rebuild their lives. They are hoping to raise $5 million.
Persons who are desirous of helping the family can contact them on telephone numbers 678-3801 or 681-6674.
I am so very sorry for this Kellawan family but what are mere words to the financial assistance they need,? if I could have done better I most certainly would have assisted them. May God in his goodness continue to bless their son for the love and care he is showing them. I am earnestly hoping that they receive the financial assistance they are asking for. A roof over one’s head is key. There is no place like home.