-made three prior attempts
A woman and her grandson, both of Bath Settlement, West Berbice, are now homeless after her son reportedly burnt her house down yesterday.
The suspected arsonist was later taken into custody at the Fort Wellington Police Station while Sukhranee Prashad, 77, was still trying to estimate her losses after the furnished three-bedroom wooden and concrete building was destroyed.
In tears, she told Stabroek News, “Me nah have nothing now more than this clothes that me have on.” She said too that she lost her husband less than two months ago and has not even gotten over his death and already has to face another tragedy. Her grandson, Marlon Hoosain, 20, a third-year Computer Science student of the University of Guyana, also lost his books and computer among other items. Meanwhile, at the time of his arrest, Prashad’s unemployed son, Vishnu, 46, was walking into the yard of a friend at Number 11 Village, two villages away. Neighbours related that around 1:30 pm they heard a loud explosion which sounded like it came from a gas bottle and when they looked out they saw the house in flames. Teachers from the nearby Bath Primary School called the fire tenders, which arrived promptly from Onverwagt and Blairmont. But the efforts to save the building proved futile. There was also a back-up tender from the Guyana Fire Service, New Amsterdam.
When this newspaper arrived at the scene, fire-fighters had already finished dousing the building and were conducting investigations. According to Prashad, her son left home around 9:30 am yesterday and returned at midday under the influence of alcohol.
He started to curse and “behave bad,” she said, adding that she told him not to drink because she is afraid of him then. He continued to curse and Marlon told him “go inside and sleep.” He got angry and brought “a bottle of fire water from the bedroom” and attempted to throw it on the young man. He also picked up a cutlass and threatened to chop him.
At that stage, Prashad said she was afraid her son would burn the house down because of his rage. They were on their way to the police station when they got a report that the house was up in flames. That was the fourth time that the man had set fire to the house. The other times, Prashad said teachers from the school and other persons assisted in putting the flames out. Her kitchen, she said was badly burnt during one of the fires. At one time he also attempted to burn his mother alive by dousing her with kerosene and striking a match. She however, managed to extinguish the fire and escaped from being badly burnt by using a broom to “brush away the fire.”
Prashad explained that Vishnu does not listen to anyone and one day when one of his brothers attempted to talk to him about his behaviour he gave him a severe beating and broke his feet. The woman recalled about three years ago she was forced to flee her house to live at her daughter’s place at Bath Housing Scheme, leaving her husband behind with her son. She tried moving back on one occasion but “when me went to bed me imagine that he would come and kill me and me couldn’t stay there.” While she was away, Vishnu beat his father severely and caused him to suffer a “brain damage” that led to a stroke. After her husband’s death, she returned home hoping that her son would change. He never did and she regretted her decision. She had a few a days of peace lately when the man had to take some antibiotics for an injury to his foot. He could not drink during that time but as soon as the tablets were finished he started again.
Several years ago Vishnu’s wife walked out on him with their two children because of his abusive behaviour. They are now residing in Canada. Prashad said she would be at peace now that her son is locked up and she hopes that he is never let out.