"Maybe God had to take away something from me before I gat what I want," said Sankumar Bissessar yesterday while looking at his brand new home.
On October 29, while he was at work, his 13-year-old mentally disabled daughter, Geeta was burnt to death while chained to a bed in the family's one-bedroom home at East Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara. Her death caused an uproar with many wondering how a father and a community could have let this happen.
Meanwhile, single father Bissessar, with seven children, was forced to stay with relatives and built a shack out of scrap rescued from the fire.
Now, he is a few days away from owning his own home, which is being built by Gafoor's and Sons Company Ltd.
The man who weeds yards, catches fish, mends nets and plants a kitchen garden to scrape by said the last few months were the worst. "I was really shame of the whole thing, but the truth is me nah know how de house burn down."
Come next Sunday this is where Sankumar Bissessar and his six children will live. The house was constructed by Gafoor's and Sons Ltd with assistance from other lumber dealers. Bissessar's daughter was burnt to death while chained to a bed in the family's
Reports were that Geeta, who Bissessar confirmed yesterday was mentally challenged, was left alone in the house chained to a bed when the fire broke out.
He said Gafoor's made contact with him and promised to rebuild his home. The company lived up to its promise and along with Jetoo's, Rohit and Daevo Lumber Yards the house is almost complete.
The three-bedroom wooden home would cost close to $1M to build and contractor Mohamed Nazir said work should have completed yesterday but because of some minor problems it would be today. He said Gafoors had provided most of the materials, but the other lumber dealers chipped in with other things.
Bissesar said his troubles really started when his wife, Kamla Phagoo died three years ago. "It was like if I was getting mad. You see my wife died suddenly after she had heart problem for a very long time."
He said after this he was only earning $2,000 per week, which was far from what he needed to feed his family.
During that time his wife's relatives challenged him to take the children from him. "They say I can't look after the children because me ain't working."
According to Bissessar, for several weeks persons constantly visited his home with the aim of taking them away. He said at one time he was thrown out of the house but managed to return when neighbours intervened on his behalf.
Asked how the children survived after his wife died, Bissessar said generous neighbours and relatives had made a few donations. However, Bisessar said he was determined to raise his family by himself and for that reason he worked very hard. "I used to weed almost everybody yard in this village, repair people cast nets and also catch fish to maintain my family."
But worse was to come when his eldest daughter, Amrita got pregnant at the age of 14. He said he took on the responsibility of taking care of Amrita until her child's father took her away.
However, things changed for Bissessar a few months after the death of his wife when he secured a gardening job at an embassy paying $6,000 per week. Along with that Bissessar said his employer would usually assist him with food and clothing.
He said his current salary of $6,000 per week was still inadequate to take care of his family. Groceries would cost around $5,000 and the remainder would be saved. But the 39-year-old father is not daunted by his situation and said he was willing to go the extra mile to take care of his children.
"I love my children and they love me and I can't see them punishing while I am free. I will work day and night if that what it takes to raise them."
Asked about his daughter's plight, Bissessar said the child was mentally ill and as such whenever she was alone she would beg people on the road and elsewhere. According to the man, Geeta used to attend primary school but eventually had to leave. He said at first he used to return home around midday to take care of her while his other children went to school.
However, Bissessar said when he got the job at the embassy he could not get the time off at midday. "So it was a matter of survival. I needed the money to take care of my family and Geeta needed special attention."
He said despite the fact that many residents were quick to point out to the media that the child was usually chained to the bed, many of them had refused to look after her while he went to work.
He said his second child, Sunita was the one who used to look after Geeta, but she had to attend school in the afternoon and as such the decision was made to chain her.
He said it was unfortunate for him to lose his daughter in such a way.
On Sunday, the house will be formally handed over to the family at a special ceremony organised by Gafoors.
He said while he was thankful for the help he had received, he still needed furniture and some of the basic household articles and would welcome any help in this regard.
The children, 14-year-old Sunita, 12-year-old Rupa, four-year-old Avinash, seven-year-old Sharon, six-year-old Kimberly and five-year-old Immanuel, are all at school. Bissessar told this newspaper that they all have uniforms and adequate clothing.