Persons held over arson attempt at Communities Ministry

Several persons have been taken into custody as part of the investigation into the attempted arson that occurred at the Ministry of Communities on Wednesday.

This is according to the Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan, who said that surveillance camera footage has proven useful to the investigation.

Bulkan could not say what materials were used in the attempted arson. He said the perpetrators tried to start the fire in the office of the internal auditors. The minister noted that prior to the fire, the Ministry was due to do an audit on the previous government’s $1 billion countrywide clean-up programme.

When Stabroek News visited the Ministry, employees were going about their duties.

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle on Wednesday told Stabroek News that the attempt was criminal and he did not want to make any further comment that might impair the investigation.

He said that while no major fire resulted from the arson attempt, he suspects that was the intention of the arsonists.