Corentyne home comes under firebomb attack

Six members of a family, including a child, escaped injury after their Corentyne home and vehicles were targeted in a suspected firebomb (Molotov cocktail) attack during the wee hours of Tuesday.

Contractor Rawjhen Armugum, 54, said he and his wife were asleep in the lower flat of the house at about 2:00h when they were startled by a loud sound.

“I hear like a shot, what I thought was a gunshot. And it was a splash straight into the wall. But when I get up on my bed and I pull the blind, I see fire on the outside. What I thought was something catch outside…So I burst the door and run out, and when I see, fire all over the place,” he recalled.

Armugum said fires were burning at several points around the property, including near the house and vehicles parked outside.

“We have all our trucks at the outside of the yard, but they actually come for the family in the house. You know, if we burn, they could burn everybody within the family inside. They didn’t come for nothing outside of the yard, but they just come for me and my family,” he said.

Five adults and one child live at the property.

Armugum said he, his son, son-in-law and other relatives immediately began using a hose to battle the flames while the Guyana Fire Service was contacted. He said they were able to extinguish most of the fires before firefighters arrived.

Following the incident, the family reportedly found six bottles at different locations around the property.

Armugum described them as El Dorado five-year-old rum bottles with what appeared to be wicks attached. He said a container was also found near one of the trucks.

Surveillance footage from the property was subsequently reviewed.

“We see a person walk side of the truck from the dam. But when he go, we only see the smoke, light at the dam, and then the person start throw, throw. That is all we see. We didn’t see nobody else,” Armugum related.

He said the individual appeared to be male and was wearing a hoodie, which prevented the family from identifying him.

Armugum said he has no known dispute with anyone which he believes could have prompted the attack. He also questioned other members of the household, who similarly indicated that they were unaware of any problems with anyone.

The 54-year-old has spent most of his life in the construction industry, a profession which has extended through three generations of his family. His father was a contractor, Armugum followed him into the trade, and his son is now doing the same.

The incident has nevertheless left the family considering additional measures to protect the property.

“This is attack on my family. We have to put little measures into places now, right? But like I tell you, I will protect my family with my life. If I have to die, I will die. But nobody can save me but God. That’s my belief,” he said.

Police were summoned and, according to Armugum, ranks arrived at approximately 4:00h. He subsequently went to the Police station and made a report.

While expressing hope that those responsible would be brought to justice, the contractor stressed that he does not know who carried out the alleged attack and would not accuse anyone without evidence.

“I’m hoping for a little justice, but you know justice is a very hard thing. Like I said, I didn’t see nobody. I don’t know nobody and I will not accuse anybody,” Armugum said.

With the motive still unknown, Armugum said the family now has to remain prepared for the possibility of another incident.

“I don’t know if it could happen again, you know. I can’t say. But you have to prepare for the worst,” he said.