Corentyne house blaze maliciously set – Divisional Fire Chief

– Police await fire department report; suspect released on station bail

Berbice Divisional Fire Officer, Clive McDonald, has told this publication that preliminary investigations indicate that the Salton Village, Corentyne, Berbice house fire last Friday was maliciously set.
Police investigations into the fire that destroyed the home of Samantha Crawford a week ago are continuing, and authorities say further action is dependent on a report from the Guyana Fire Service.
Regional Police Commander Assistant Commissioner Shivpersaud Bacchus confirmed that the man who was initially taken into custody in connection with the incident has been released on station bail.
According to Bacchus, the suspect was held for the maximum 72 hours, after which Police could not lawfully continue his detention without instituting formal charges.
“The Police are now awaiting the fire department’s report to complete the case file,” Bacchus explained, adding that once the document is received, the matter will be sent for legal advice.
The update comes as Crawford remains displaced following the blaze, which occurred while she was away from the property. She has maintained her allegation that the fire may be linked to a long-standing dispute with a caretaker who had lived at the premises for several decades.