Stabroek News reported yesterday that a young man whose name was given as Shurlon Austin, 24, was allegedly to have stabbed a Cuban man to death and injured a woman following a bitter falling out on Friday night. The woman, whose throat was slashed by the man, remained hospitalised yesterday, a source noted.
Brumell noted yesterday that while the case does not fall within the jurisdiction of local police, the force is prepared to assist the Cuban authorities if a request is made for relevant information.
Last evening Public Service Minister Jennifer Westford told this newspaper that she did not have any new information from the Spanish-speaking Caribbean island.
A student on the island told Stabroek News yesterday that the incident stemmed from a business deal which went sour.
He said that Austin, like most students would sell items such as clothes and shoes to nationals on the island in order to make a living.
He said that Guyanese students across the island were stunned at the incident, noting that there are a few students who would “end up in problems” with the Cubans. He said that students would “throw fund raising activities to make some ends meet”, noting that the living conditions there are difficult.
Based on information gathered by this newspaper, Austin left Guyana in 2006 at age 24 and was expected to return home here in July after which he would graduate.
A parent of a student studying on the island told this newspaper on Saturday that students often succumb to the pressure of poor conditions and being away from relatives for many years.
She explained that the Guyana government only provides airfare to travel to Cuba when the scholarship starts and to return to Guyana when it has ended. In the interim, she said that parents would have to foot the bill.
She said that while a stipend is provided by both governments it is inadequate to upkeep the students.
