‘Eye Lash’ charged with mandir arson

– mother provides evidence of mental illness

At the Whim Court yesterday Lueon ‘Eye Lash’ Morgan, 33, of 313 ‘B’

Field Sophia was charged with setting fire to a place of worship when he appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

He reportedly set fire to the mandir at Number 48 Village, Corentyne around 2 am on Thursday February 17.

The pictures of the deities that the man reportedly damaged.

Morgan’s mother who was present in court told the magistrate that he was being treated at the psychiatric ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital. She also provided a document to prove this.

The matter would be called again today at the Albion Court and the woman would be required to give a sworn statement about her son’s medical condition.

He may be required to be examined by a doctor to determine whether he is fit to undergo trial.

The burnt roof of the mandir

The woman told the court too that her son had lived in Cayenne, French Guiana from the age of six and later became a member of a musical band.

He returned in 2003 and after he became sick he started taking treatment at the hospital. His father lived at Number 51 Village.

She said Morgan was sometimes very violent and that she would have to “chain him down.”

Meanwhile, members of the mandir had formed a bucket brigade and managed to extinguish the fire which resulted in about $1.5 million in damage.

A woman who was awakened by the loud crackling sound noticed the fire at the back of the building and alerted the other members.

She had told this newspaper that Morgan took off all the “saris from the deities (murtis) and hang them up.”

He also broke all of the large pictures of the deities, removed coins that were used for offerings and stuffed them in his pants’ pockets.

He then broke a bottle containing ghee, poured it in the back of the building where a quantity of saris, sheets, religious books, drums, juke box and other items were stored and set them afire.

A team of fire officials from the Skeldon Fire Station was heading to the fire when the fire tender collided with a Toyota Raum motorcar at Number 52 Village around 10:30 am.

The truck turned turtle and toppled on its side into the concrete culvert resulting in the occupants sustaining injuries.

The firefighters were rushed to the Skeldon Hospital and subsequently transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital, nursing severe injuries.

The driver of the car who was taken into custody has since been released on station bail as investigations continue.

Hugh Gray, 37, driver of the fire tender of Number 50 Village and Junior Carpen, 27, of Canje who are both wearing neck braces are said to be recovering.

Their colleague, Jimmy Noble, 30, of Line Path, Skeldon is still in a serious condition and may spend a longer time in hospital, according to a source. Along with internal injuries, he sustained injuries to his face and right eye and is having difficulty hearing.