Two elderly women are now homeless and counting their losses after a suspected act of arson during the wee hours of Wednesday morning at their lot 59 Durban Street, Georgetown home.
According to information received, the two women occupied a two-storey concrete house.
INews was told that an 80-year-old pensioner- identified as Ingrid Barry- resided in the upper flat, alone while a middle-aged woman; Donna Forth, who occupied the lower flat.
At around 01:00hr, Barry reported to police that she was asleep in her bedroom, when she heard the sound of something being thrown into her flat of the house. The elderly woman recalled the intense smoke and said that she quickly escaped the building through the back stairs.
Upon reaching to safety, the woman reportedly alerted neighbours who contacted the Guyana Fire Service. However, upon their arrival, the fire was well underway.
The tenant in the lower flat was not at home at the time of the incident.
This online publication was informed that the matter is being treated as that of an act of arson as a bottle with wick was found at the scene.
Reports also indicate that the property ownership has been under dispute for quite some time.
An investigation has been launched.
