Minutes after police counselled a Gasparillo man over a domestic dispute, crime scene investigators were removing his charred remains from his burnt-out home. Police said Larry Sookdeo, 52, a former employee of the Board of Inland Revenue, died in a fire which destroyed two houses on Charles Street yesterday morning. Sookdeo and a close relative got into an argument on Thursday night.
Gasparillo police visited Sookdeo and a female relative twice and counselled them after which the fire started. Neighbours said during the argument Sookdeo locked the relative in a room and as she struggled to open the door smoke began coming from a bedroom. She escaped but Sookdeo remained in the house. Police responded and had to use a plank to remove his remains from his bedroom. The wooden floor of the bedroom collapsed.
Up to late yesterday detectives were unable to determine the cause of the fire. Minister of the People and Social Development Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh visited affected residents and delivered emergency supplies. He provided emergency food cards and offered clothing and home construction grants to help rebuild the houses.