by Samuel Wens
UPPER SURINAME — “I didn’t want to believe it at first because I had locked everything up and left no one in the house.” Emotionally, Jeldies Odang (23), who lives in the village of Malobi with her one-year-old daughter, the True Time that she was washing dishes by the river on Monday when villagers reported that her house was on fire. According to Odang, the fire could have been caused by electricity. She had her rice cooker plugged in because she was cooking rice.
The red rooster also crowed on Sunday in Upper Suriname. In the village of Pada Lafanti, the community house and an adjacent hut were closed pina-roof covering lost. District Secretary Cordy Seedo confirms the True Time that the buildings in both villages were connected to the electricity grid. No one was present in the home, community center or hut when the fire broke out.
“There will be one krutu to discuss the replacement of the guesthouse”
Pada Lafanti Captain Wazeng Madie
The fire in Pada Lafanti started at the hut and quickly spread to the community hall, village captain Wazeng Madie tells the newspaper. According to him, people were engaged in traditional activities related to a funeral ceremony when the fire broke out. Most people were therefore on the other side of the village.
The burned down house, because of its height ‘langa’ mentioned, was built by the late basya Afoetoe Gidema and donated to the village community. “She was used to receive guests,” says the captain. “There will be one krutu to discuss replacing the guesthouse.”
The administrative district of Upper Suriname says it is aware of the house fires in Malobi and Pada Lafanti, because they have been reported. The necessary instructions have been given to the people.
