Mother distressed after losing her two youngest children

Mere hours after she had spoken to her children Deron Jr and Dira Peters, mom, Shemille Peters, had to rush to a scene in Georgetown where her two youngest children had perished in a house fire on Wednesday. October 23, 2024. Persons at the scene of the burnt out house at Langley Park reported hearing screams of anguish from the infant and toddler siblings who did not make it to safety after the house in which they resided became engulfed in flames.

Shemille Peters (with orange head tie), mother of the toddlers who perished in the house fire at Langley Park, speaks to an official from the Minister of Health.

Speaking briefly to SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday, the still shaken mother of three said she had spoken to her children via telephone at around 8.30 p.m on Tuesday. In a matter of hours, Peters, who lives at Largo Heights had to rush to Georgetown, after receiving the terrifying news about the fire. Her head covered with an orange coloured bandana, Peters was being consoled by relatives and friends, as she stood close to the scene of the fire.

Police had cordoned off the area leading to the blue concrete house in which the children perished. It was only after the charred remains of the two toddlers had been removed from the House, that the mother and about four other persons were allowed beyond the cordon. At this time, the remains of the children were already in an undertaker’s vehicle. Deron Junior was just one year old, while his sister Diara, was three. The children lived with their father, Deron Peters, who was not at home when the fire started.

Their elder sister (about 6 or 7 years old) from another relationship, also lived at the house in Langley Park.

At the scene on Wednesday, many speculated about the possible cause of the fire. However, the police and fire officials are yet to state what was the cause of the blaze. A police release issued later that day states, “The Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines

Police Force has commenced a full investigation into a devastating fire that claimed the lives of two young children in Georgetown earlier today.”

According to the police, initial reports claim that the fire started at 12.00 p.m, and that firefighters and police officers responded to the scene.

The bodies of the two children were reportedly found under a bed in the burnt out house. Sean Peters, an adult male who lived in the house told SEARCHLIGHT that he was not at home at the time of the fire.

Sean, a labourer, said he was at work when he got the call about the fire, and by the time he arrived on the scene the fire was raging in their 4-bedroom concrete house. More than 10 persons are now homeless as a result of the fire. A post mortem is to be performed on the bodies of the children to determine the cause of death.