“I’m not feeling safe at all” – mother of 2 after home destroyed by fire

A 30-year-old mother of two has said she continues to live in fear after allegedly being threatened with death by her estranged husband, even as he was taken into police custody on Friday in connection with an investigation into a fire that destroyed their Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) home.

Mohaini Manaroo said her husband was subsequently released on station bail as investigators await a report from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) into the September 27 fire. He has not been charged.

Manaroo said she and her husband had been separated for about three months following what she described as a troubled relationship during which she alleges she was repeatedly abused. She said the matter had previously reached the court and that she had obtained a restraining order.

According to Manaroo, her husband went to Number 54 Village, Corentyne, where she was staying at her mother’s home, on the Saturday before the fire. “He say he gon kill me,” Manaroo alleged, adding, “but I didn’t take that as serious, because me never expect him to do that.”

Manaroo also recounted another incident at about 19:00h before the fire, during which she alleged that her husband damaged part of the property and continued behaving in a threatening manner.

A few hours later, at about 12:15h on September 27, neighbours called to inform her that the Mibicuri house was on fire. She went to the area at about 07:00h the following morning and made a report at the Mibicuri Police Station.

According to Manaroo, ranks contacted the fire service and Whim Police, after which investigators examined the property. “They come and look at the place, measure and do whatever they had to do,” she said.

Manaroo later provided a statement at the Whim Police Station. She said her husband was taken into custody on Friday and later released on station bail as investigators await the fire report.

The cause of the fire has not been officially established, and Manaroo’s allegation against her husband remains unproven. The mother said the events have also affected her ability to carry out her normal routine with her children. “I’m not feeling safe at all. Me can’t take me children them to school because me scared, me mother take them to school every day,” she said.

Her two sons are aged five and 11.

Manaroo said her marriage had not always been troubled as she recalled that things were initially very good, but alleged that her husband’s behaviour later changed.

She alleged that he became abusive and said she made several reports at the Mibicuri Police Station earlier this year. On a previous occasion, however, she said she chose not to pursue the matters. “Because I was looking at my children. Try to stay because, you know, children to grow without a father is very hard,” she explained.

Manaroo is now awaiting the findings of the fire investigation. “I’m hoping to get jus