Police are on the hunt for a man who reportedly set alight the bed on which two children were sleeping, following a dispute with their father.
Reports are the arsonist had a dispute with the children’s father over a horse race.
Speaking with this publication, Samuel Fraser, the children’s father, said that his three-year-old and eight-year-old were asleep on the bed at the time the fire was set.
The partially burnt mattress on which the children were asleep
The 28-year-old told Guyana Times that prior to the fire, he attempted to part two other friends after a horseracing bet dispute. It was during his attempts to stop the two from fighting that he was threatened by suspect.
He said that the suspect had pushed him and accused him of taking sides.
“I pull he off of another man and he start cuss up and seh he gone bun down me house and kill me family.”
Fraser said he forgot about the incident, but later received a phone call that his home was on fire.
Meanwhile, the man’s wife, Rosetta Seebarran, told this newspaper that she heard footsteps and then heard a sound which appeared to be that of water. “I was coming to open the door, because I think that is me husband come home, but then I start smell gasoline and then one explosion…”
At the time the two children were asleep on a mattress, which was on the floor in front of the door.
Seebarran explained that the gasoline seeped under the door and got into the mattress. “You hear when the matches scratch and by the time I could get the children to go inside is one explosion…”
The two children escaped unhurt. According to Seebarran, she opened a bedroom window in an attempt to get the children to safety as flames were seen reaching the ceiling.
Neighbours ran to their assistance and were able to put out the blaze. A plastic bottle with what appeared to be gasoline was left on the step.
According to Seebarran, when she looked through the window she saw someone who is known to her leaving the yard.
Police have since launched a hunt for a wanted man whose last known address was given as Liverpool Village, Corentyne.
