Fire takes all

ONE MINUTE Alfred Howard was enjoying a plate of food. The next minute he was on the ground in a collapsed state. That’s because he received news around noon that his house in Lucas Street, St Philip, was on fire.

He was so overcome with shock that his knees gave out.

“I was at a picnic at Barclays Park, St Andrew. I had just finished eating. Somebody call my neighbour and she called me to tell me ‘my house burn down’. I say, ‘How you mean?’

“When she tell me so, I drop down on the ground and start to cry,” Howard said. 

He was among thousands at the Ermie Bourne Highway location to celebrate with the Barbados Labour Party as its annual Heroes Day picnic. The middle-aged man said he was also there to collect bottles.

Howard, who wore red from head to toe in support of the ruling party, told the NATION it took him about 40 minutes to get home. When he got there, it was as bad as he thought.

 Subscribe now to our eNATION edition.

For the latest stories and breaking news updates download the Nationnews apps for iOS and Android.