A Point Fortin mother of seven is pleading for assistance after her home was gutted by fire in the wee hours of Saturday. Nekisha Byron, 32, told the T&T Guardian yesterday she suspects her home was torched after she had an argument with a man in the area.
Byron said the man threatened to set fire to her house and she subsequently made a report to the Point Fortin Police Station. According to reports, the fire started around 1 am on Saturday, completely destroying the two-bedroom wooden house, located on Reservoir Hill, Point Fortin.
After learning about the fire, Byron said she went to survey the damage.
“When I got there, there was nothing left...everything was burnt. But yesterday evening when I was looking in the ashes, I realised I didn’t see the fridge, the microwave or the washing machine among the things.” She believes whoever set her house on fire, cleared out her valuables first.
Byron separated from her husband seven months ago and moved into the house with her children, ages 18, 16, 15, 14, 12, 10 and eight. The children’s father, she said, cannot care for them as he suffers from partial paralysis as a result of an accident several years ago.
She said since moving out of his home, she has been supporting her children by doing odd jobs in the area.
“I hustle to take care of my children, cleaning, combing hair, selling clothes for some people...I live day-to-day to feed my children and send them to school.”
Byron also runs a Facebook page called ‘Delilah’ which she said is used to help those who are less fortunate.
“I am struggling to make things work for myself but I am always trying to help someone else as well. Through the page we have been able to get food and clothes to many people in need.”
Now, Byron is one in need.
All of her children still attend school and she is appealing to anyone who can assist her to contact her at 290-2568.