Former Headmaster dies in Beterverwagting fire

A 77-year-old man perished in a fire that destroyed his Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara (ECD) house on Friday morning.

Dead is Moses Elias of Quamina Road, Beterverwagting; he was the former headmaster of the Bladen Hall Multilateral School.

The News Room understands that the fire started in the two-storey structure during the wee hours of Friday; Elias lived alone.

Residents related that they heard loud explosions and screams coming from the house.

Efforts were immediately made to locate the elderly man, but they were futile. It is believed that Elias was trapped in the heavily grilled house.

The Guyana Fire Service was alerted and about two hours after, residents said Elias’ remains were pulled from debris. He was burnt beyond recognition.

Sherwyn Elias, the man’s nephew, told the News Room that when he arrived at the scene, he was informed that the former teacher died.

He said he would visit Elias from time to time, noting that he liked being alone and would often times isolate himself from relatives.

“Sometime when you come, he would be in the house and you would call and he would not answer,” Sherwyn said.

He added, “This is real sad.”

Meanwhile, a neighbour, who wished not to be named, told the News Room she woke up to the commotion.

“I heard like loud explosions and screams coming from the house….About two hours after, they pulled he body out of the house…from the kitchen area,” the woman said.

Investigators from the Guyana Fire Service have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.