FREEPORT - A Haitian couple was found dead after neighbors in Garden Villas smelled strong fumes coming from a house in the area on Saturday morning.

According to reports, the couple - who operated a small store in the Ghetto - was using a portable generator at the time because their electricity had been turned off.

Asst Loretta Mackey, press liaison officer, reported that police were called to a house on Bruce Avenue West at Garden Villas, where a man and woman were discovered dead around 8am.

"We believe their deaths are accidental because a generator was left on (in the house)," said Ms Mackey.

Police have not yet released the names of the victims and are still trying to make contact with the next of kin in Haiti and Canada.

When The Tribune arrived at the scene later, residents were still in shock. They said the victims are known as Coco and Rosie.

Several persons were sitting under a big tree, just a few feet from the house where the couple operated a small mom and pop store in the Ghetto.

"They are usually up early and when we did not see them we knew something was wrong so we knocked on the door and window, but there was no answer," said one resident.

"We could smell fumes coming from the house and we called the police. When the police opened the door, the fumes were very strong," he said.

According to a friend, the couple's electricity had been turned off and Coco had borrowed a generator.

"It is very sad," he said. "They were nice and everyone here knew them." They have no relatives here and their children are in Canada and Haiti."

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