A man was remanded yesterday after he was charged with burning the room in which he was staying at a city guest house because he was dissatisfied with the service.
Security guard Andre Headly, of Station Street, Kitty, appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on the indictable charge of setting fire to a building. He was not required to plead.
It was alleged that on December 23, at Georgetown, Headly unlawfully and maliciously set fire to the building of Orin John, with intent to cause injury.
Prosecutor Stephen Telford told the court that Headly was displeased with the service he received from a staff member of the guest house and as a result became angry and set the room in which he was staying alight.
However, when given a chance to respond Headly denied setting the fire. According to him, he only quarrelled with the staff on duty since they were ignoring his concerns and complainants.
In giving his version of what transpired, Headly said he complained to the staff on duty that there was no running water in his room and asked that he be given another room or that plumbers be dispatched to rectify the problem. He explained that he waited for hours but his concerns were not addressed. This, he said, prompted him to ask to speak with the manager but his request was also rejected. He said he was frustrated and decided to ask the staff to return the $9,000 he had earlier paid for the room but again he was ignored. Headly said he did not set the room or any part of the building on fire.
Meanwhile, Telford objected to bail, noting that the act could have had devastating effects. Headly was later remanded to prison and ordered to return to court on January 3.
