serenity
10-12-2007, 12:57 PM
This is the Guardian's story:
Sisters burnt after flambeau is thrown in their home.
Tamee Ramgopaul, 17, critical with burns on 79 per cent of her body.
Kimberly Gajadharsingh, 12, in stable condition at hospital.
Gillian Lucky calls for witnesses to come forward.
BY INDARJIT SEURAJ
A Valsayn cashier is now fighting for her life at hospital after an arson attack at her home left her with burns to 79 per cent of her body.
Tamee Ramgopaul, a 17-year-old who worked at Better Deal Supermarket in Aranguez, was being kept alive by a life support machine at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope up to late yesterday, her mother Ghandai Gajadharsingh said.
Her younger sister Kimberly Gajadharsingh is also being treated at hospital.
This, after an unknown assailant threw a flambeau into their two-bedroom home at 51 Bamboo Settlement, Number One.
Ramgopaul sustained severe burns to her body, despite the heroic efforts of her 14-year-old brother Hemant, who tried desperately to get her out from the burning house.
Hemant said he was watching television just after 1 am yesterday, when he heard the breaking of glass, followed by a lit flambeau which bounced off the couch and onto the ground where it shattered and quickly spread fire.
He said when he tried to wake Ramgopaul and Gajadharsingh, who were asleep nearby on a mattress on the floor, only Gajadharsingh woke up.
By that time, he said, the fire had already spread to the mattress and while Gajadharsingh ran out of the house with minor burns, Ramgopaul remained asleep.
Hemant said Ramgopaul, who “was in and out of sleep,” finally woke up and ran out of the burning house covered in flames.
He quickly used a sheet to extinguish the flames on his sister.
Hemant, who suffered burns to his left foot, did not think of himself as a hero.
He said he was just concerned about the lives of his two sisters.
Praying for a miracle
The children’s mother Ghandai Gajadharsingh said she was praying for a miracle to save the life of her eldest daughter.
“I’ve seen burn victims, but this is something else,” she said.
She said the fire might be linked to a recent threat.
Ghandai said a person known to them threatened to burn down the house.
Call for witnesses
Meanwhile, attorney Gillian Lucky—the COP St Joseph candidate in the upcoming general election—made a call for witnesses to the arson to come forward.
“This is a premeditated offence...and somebody must have seen something,” she told reporters when she visited the distraught family yesterday.
She said her main concern was about the critical injuries the girls sustained.
Lucky added that she wanted to ensure that the displaced family had some accommodation.
Ghandai said the family lost everything in the fire which also took part of her mother’s two- storey home adjacent to hers.
As news of Ramgopaul’s injuries reached her workplace, there was a sombre mood among employees, some of whom wept.
Operations manager at Better Deal, Radhay Singh, described Ramgopaul as a dedicated worker who never had any problems at work.
“She is a real good worker, one of the best cashiers we have,” he said.
He said she was a very strict Hindu, which was why she was favoured to work in the supermarket’s puja section.
Gajadharsingh remained hospitalised in a stable condition up to late yesterday.
St Joseph police officers are investigating.
The version I heard on the news last night was that they knew who did it - a woman who used to rent from them who they kicked out after hearing what she did for a living. Apparently, according to the report, the woman threatened the family and said that if she cant live dey she'll make sure nobody can. :shock:
I eh know what to say nuh, ppl mad yes!
Sisters burnt after flambeau is thrown in their home.
Tamee Ramgopaul, 17, critical with burns on 79 per cent of her body.
Kimberly Gajadharsingh, 12, in stable condition at hospital.
Gillian Lucky calls for witnesses to come forward.
BY INDARJIT SEURAJ
A Valsayn cashier is now fighting for her life at hospital after an arson attack at her home left her with burns to 79 per cent of her body.
Tamee Ramgopaul, a 17-year-old who worked at Better Deal Supermarket in Aranguez, was being kept alive by a life support machine at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope up to late yesterday, her mother Ghandai Gajadharsingh said.
Her younger sister Kimberly Gajadharsingh is also being treated at hospital.
This, after an unknown assailant threw a flambeau into their two-bedroom home at 51 Bamboo Settlement, Number One.
Ramgopaul sustained severe burns to her body, despite the heroic efforts of her 14-year-old brother Hemant, who tried desperately to get her out from the burning house.
Hemant said he was watching television just after 1 am yesterday, when he heard the breaking of glass, followed by a lit flambeau which bounced off the couch and onto the ground where it shattered and quickly spread fire.
He said when he tried to wake Ramgopaul and Gajadharsingh, who were asleep nearby on a mattress on the floor, only Gajadharsingh woke up.
By that time, he said, the fire had already spread to the mattress and while Gajadharsingh ran out of the house with minor burns, Ramgopaul remained asleep.
Hemant said Ramgopaul, who “was in and out of sleep,” finally woke up and ran out of the burning house covered in flames.
He quickly used a sheet to extinguish the flames on his sister.
Hemant, who suffered burns to his left foot, did not think of himself as a hero.
He said he was just concerned about the lives of his two sisters.
Praying for a miracle
The children’s mother Ghandai Gajadharsingh said she was praying for a miracle to save the life of her eldest daughter.
“I’ve seen burn victims, but this is something else,” she said.
She said the fire might be linked to a recent threat.
Ghandai said a person known to them threatened to burn down the house.
Call for witnesses
Meanwhile, attorney Gillian Lucky—the COP St Joseph candidate in the upcoming general election—made a call for witnesses to the arson to come forward.
“This is a premeditated offence...and somebody must have seen something,” she told reporters when she visited the distraught family yesterday.
She said her main concern was about the critical injuries the girls sustained.
Lucky added that she wanted to ensure that the displaced family had some accommodation.
Ghandai said the family lost everything in the fire which also took part of her mother’s two- storey home adjacent to hers.
As news of Ramgopaul’s injuries reached her workplace, there was a sombre mood among employees, some of whom wept.
Operations manager at Better Deal, Radhay Singh, described Ramgopaul as a dedicated worker who never had any problems at work.
“She is a real good worker, one of the best cashiers we have,” he said.
He said she was a very strict Hindu, which was why she was favoured to work in the supermarket’s puja section.
Gajadharsingh remained hospitalised in a stable condition up to late yesterday.
St Joseph police officers are investigating.
The version I heard on the news last night was that they knew who did it - a woman who used to rent from them who they kicked out after hearing what she did for a living. Apparently, according to the report, the woman threatened the family and said that if she cant live dey she'll make sure nobody can. :shock:
I eh know what to say nuh, ppl mad yes!