The children were reportedly locked in the home.
A number of neighbors who were interviewed, believed that the father’s supervision of the children were questionable. Some said that they witnessed him leaving the children locked in the house and would go to work. The father reportedly has custody of the children.
The children were rescued by a neighbor, Joseph Bastien, who said that he was awaken from his sleep by the their screams and ran to assist.
“All of a sudden I jump out from the sleep and I heard them bawling ‘fire.’ I remember earlier on in the morning I saw two little children in the home. So when I watch, I saw the fire took over the house already. So I went closer to the fire and I heard the voice of the youths. They were screaming, so I just burst through the backdoor and just grab them hand by hand and I just run out with them. I held each of them on the side of each of my arms and I just run out the place with them and bring them by the neighbors,” he said.
He continued, “I cannot say who that was there with them but I just hear them say is their mother that was there with them and is their mother that burn the house. That’s what I hear from the youths. I not sure of that.:
Bastien does not see himself as a hero, stating, “When is danger, you must play your role. If I was a minute later, they would have get burn.”
The children are reportedly in police custody.
DNO caught up with the children’s father, who later showed up on the scene. He was first interviewed by a fire and ambulance officer.
He refused to say much to the reporter, other than, “But how I can know what happen? I wasn’t there. But you not seeing I just come then? Now I going and check my children.”
Another neighbor Alexander Hodge, told DNO that he was outside of his home when he saw smoke then later heard children screaming.
“I began to become a little hysterical, you know. Three of us, went up at the back of the house and we saw the children. They gave themselves a distance between the fire and the house… and the guy picked them up,” he stated.
The home was totally consumed by the fire in which all that was left were pieces of wood, a cylinder of cooking gas and other unidentifiable remnants.
well well father consider yourself verrrrrrrryyyyyy lucky. If u were in the USA is endangering the welfare of two children, maybe even attempted murder plus acs (welfare) on your case. Is go directly to jail do not pass go do not collect $200.00. U won’t even have a chance to say u were not even there how can u know what happen. Thank god yur kids are ok and please do not lock them up again. This is crazy. If that neighbour wasn’t home alas poor children.Thank god…….
Hello 👋 it’s me the child that almost burn in the house 2011, yes I don’t like wat alu say nobody come and rescue my brother and I. Our age actually wrong.
Thank God, for nosey neighbours. Thank you my brother, I think you are under-estimating the magnitude of your role in this matter. If it wasn’t for you, the country would be lamenting the loss of these two lovely young children. ON THE BEHALF OF ALL DOMINICANS BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS A HEARTFELT THANK YOU, FOR YOUR KIND ACT OF HEROISM.
I would not say anything to her, those kind of people, when you speak to them they take offense and want to curse u out.
If all action it have she going, I would mark her, just before she go I leaving my house. I going somewhere I can see when she leaving her house, as soon as she step out, I calling police and saying a drug transaction occuring, when drug squad reach and people start to gather I coming like a spector.
That will teach her a lesson, but I cannot guarantee she will learn.
we all know its wrong to live children under age locked up in a house alone without an adault & to these 2 kids are 4 & 6 thats way to small,in the states the law is, u allowed to live some one 18 & above with the small ones or else the parents in trouble,we all have to thanks the gentle man for saving the kids lives ,he should get a reward..
First of all, Praise God that the children and their rescuer are alive and well.
I think the man who saved the kids deserves some medal of honour. I know he said he does not consider himself a hero, but HE IS A HERO!! …and he should be recognized for his bravery!! he saved those children! well done!
I am just so happy the children are safe.
the father said “But how I can know what happen? I wasn’t there. But you not seeing I just come then? Now I going and check my children.” he give ADMIN a good answer,,, u not seeing the man just come den ay ay,,, doh try n pass it on another reporter lol
thanks God they are safe.Andy God Bless you toda and he will keep onblessing you and your kids.keep praising him.his has not let you down.
thank God !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I may have read a different story but nowhere in this piece does it say that the parent(s)/babysitters were absent or that the children were unsupervised. It just said that the children were rescued. How many times have you left your young kids in the living room watching tv and went to the kitchen to do something? We don’t know where the fire started. We don’t know the circumstances surrounding the fire. Please let us wait for the facts as DNO presents them before we condemn the parents and put them up for public hanging!!!!!!!!!
now that we have the story we can go on with the “public hanging.” Thank God the children are ok and safe!!
did u not have ur glasses on they were LOCKED in the house no mother no father and in case u did not know they were rescued by my BROTHER yes i am in PHILADELPHIA
Anonymous it look like SMH need bamboo glasses everyone is talking about that the father lock them in the house what part of that SMH don’t understand.
this person is stupid.
How breath taking to hear something good is happening in Dominica after all. Thank God for good Samaritans. But the issue of leaving young children al totheir ownis a serious matter
That’s terrible.a massive bigup to the rescuer.may Jah bless u.to the parents be strong in Jah.u need all the assistance possible; no matter your responsibility.we are praying with you.
Time to start arresting some parents… Just like Skerro was saying, he wanted to adopt Carlifonia laws to hold parenst responsible.
Neglect,
attempted murder
endangerment
abuse
Charge them….. LOCK Them UP.
I agree with you. Most of them leaving their children home during the night for sewo. Now where was an adult today? Hope they were not at fault.
two kids four and six years unsupervised where was the babysitter/child care provider, thanks God this did not happen during the night, there is no such thing where kids this age are being left home alone as we see in the movie, thanks God they are safe
these children were suppose to be at school….
– were their births even registered?
– were is the follow-up on truancy we used to have?
– do we still have functioning school inspectors?
– why are the children in police custody and not in the parents’ care, or at least the social services?
– by the way, were are their parents?
y were they left unattended? hmmmmmmmmmmm cud it have been innocent curiosity that caused such destruction hmmmmmmmmmmmm………
Live it to children to be curious, they are suppose to be that way. the matter of concern here is, why were they at home alone. unsupervised, period. No excuses should be made for the irresponsible and careless parents.
Kudos go to the Good Samaritan!!Bless you and the kids.
alah i kno i hear sirens going up dat way i hope they were not injured das y it good 2 have good neighbours u kno
well done may god continue to bless u tremendously.i will pray for u my friend
huh? you’ll pray for the rescuer?
What’s wrong with praying for the rescuer? Off course “mind over matter” praying for the rescuer is a good idea for many reasons (1) for God’s bountiful blessings for doing a good deed (2) though heroic to save the kids, the good samaritan can also suffer from trauma at seeing how close the children came to losing their lives.
Narrow-minded people need not comment on sensible topics nuh papa, choops!
True say. We have to thank God and pray that he will continue to guide and bless the rescuer. God worked through him to save the children. Thank God for angels without wings!
So where was/were the parent(s)? Hmm…four and six…just keep that in mind. Anyway kids i’m gld yall safe because i would have blamed the parent. Reminds me of my neighbour.
Where were the parents?
Thank God they’re safe!
well done may god bless u bountifuly.i will pray for u my friend
Thank God for sparing lives.
four and six unsupervised
God was watchin over them
thanks God that the children are safe,,,,,
where is the parent
Am I missing something should it not be Where are the PARENTS and not parent
Praise God!!