Eleven-year-old Ricky Samaroo remains in critical condition at the George-town Public Hospital (GPH) after he was doused with methylated spirits then set on fire allegedly by his father, Ravendra Samaroo on Thursday.
The elder Samaroo, 35, was charged with attempted murder on Friday and remanded to prison until June 3.
Stabroek News understands that at the time of the incident, Ricky was the only person at the East Canje, Berbice home with his father, who is a field foreman at GuySuCo’s Rose Hall Estate. Ravendra was reportedly consuming alcohol.
According to reports, after the man indicated to his son that he was going to purchase more alcohol, Ricky insisted that he did not want to stay home alone and held on to his father. A source close to the schoolboy and who did not wish to be named, with tears in her eyes, related to Stabroek News that Ricky had told her that he was at home with his father and at around 10pm, Ravendra who was consuming alcohol told his son that he was going on the road to buy more rum.
However, the boy reportedly responded, “pap don’t go buy more rum because you already drunk” but the man insisted and as the child refused to relent, dealt him several lashes with long boots he wears for work and his belt. However, the child did not want to be left home alone and Ravendra allegedly picked up a bottle of methylated spirit and doused the child before scratching a match and setting him on fire.
After being set alight, Ricky ran over to his neighbours and they leant of what transpired and rushed him to the New Amsterdam Hospital. He was later transferred to the GPH where he remains a patient in the Burn Care Unit.
The woman said that when she visited Ricky yesterday, he was speaking to her but suddenly started to pant for breath and he was placed on an oxygen machine.
The woman told Stabroek News that she can clearly recall all the plans Ricky shared with her.
He recently sat the National Grade Six exam and she recalled that “when he came home after his last exam, he told me that he want to go Queen’s College and think he got that school.”
Stabroek News was told that Ricky is an ‘A’ student.
Ricky sustained second and third degree burns about his body including to his face, chest, and the lower part of his abdomen. Ravendra and his wife separated nine years ago because of his “bad behaviour” and because of other problems faced.
Ricky moved to live with his father about a year ago.
