A festering feud between two sets of men in Canefield Settlement, East Canje Berbice, yesterday led to one side stoning two houses in the area breaking windows, doors and damaging other items in the yards.
The police were informed during the early stages of the attack but failed to respond until hours after.
Arvin Doodnauth, also known as “Avo”, taxi driver, 25, of Lot 1023 Galaxy Street, New Area Canefield Settlement, East Canje Berbice, said that around 7.05 am he was on the last taxi call for the night shift when an altercation occurred in Canefield.
“I go to make the turn to go through the street and a bicycle went in front and a boy move the bicycle for let me pass but then the other boy say let them don’t move he bicycle and when I passing he run and snatch me on my hand and ring some slap on me”.
He added, “Another boy tell me let me na worry with he that he a trip, he head na good”.
Doodnauth then left the scene. However, when he was returning home from work with a friend at around 7.20 am, he saw the same boy at the same street and another argument ensued, during which Doodnauth dealt the boy several slaps. “When I slap he back a whole set a them come out”.
According to residents, rela-tives and friends of Doodnauth rushed to his assistance during the altercation and one of the men from the other side sustain-ed a minor chop injury.
Doodnauth said he then rushed home “and them come behind me and start pelt up and chop up so we run in and lock up when them start pelt but when the crew get more big them start rush in. About 25 a them, who na had cutlass had bottles and had chains and them pick up some blocks and start pelt, them take pole sticks and about seven lady went with them”.
The men were also heard encouraging Doodnauth and neighbours to call the police claiming that “them police can’t do we nothing”.
According to Doodnauth, one of the men is related to someone at the Central Police Station.
Also present in the house during the attack were Doodnauth’s wife and his two children, ages one year, and one month old; his niece, 11 years; his father; brothers; sister and a sister in law.
Doodnauth estimated the damage to his property at hundreds of thousands of dollars. He said one of the three motorcycles was only purchased two months ago.
The group of persons then went to a second house through the said street where they also stoned and damaged items. Baijnauth Ramnarine, explained, that he and his wife were sitting in their hammock when they heard a sudden noise, “Them start to come and cuss … and when they come here they start to pelt some bricks and beer bottle at the window”.
Ramnarine is the father of one of Doodnauth’s friends, Ronaldo Ramnarine.
“Them open the gate and come in and get iron bar and wood and some ladies was with them…”
Ramnarine rushed inside of his house after the men began breaking their windows while his wife ran to the back of the house and hid between some water tanks. “Them two children one is four years and one is ten years and they were sleeping in there and the bottle and everything start break and I rush in there and I collect them and carry them upstairs”.
“In the midst of that they trying to break the place and come in and then one lady pull the one wah been a come in out of the house and na make he come in”, he said.
A number of residents including Doodnauth and his sister told Stabroek News that they phoned the Reliance Police Station but ranks failed to respond during the attack. “I called and them give me Central (Police Station) number to let me call there and I call there too but nobody ain’t come”, one resident said.
Stabroek News also phoned the Reliance Police Station during the attack on Doodnauth’s house and a rank, who failed to provide his name, said they had already received a report and the patrol was dispatched.
Doodnauth and his relatives hid in their house for almost two hours and after no police responded relatives and friends who rushed to assist took them to the police station. Around one hour after that, police were noticed in the community attempting to locate the assailants.
There have been other such occurrences in the Canefield community and police have failed to deal with the matters appropriately. Most afternoons several groups of unemployed men are seated at the various cross streets where is it alleged that they would use illegal substances and interfere with persons.
Doodnauth and his friends are also sometimes seated at the head of their street and they too have been accused of interfering with persons.
As of yesterday afternoon the police were able to arrest four persons. Those persons alleged that someone known to Doodnauth attempted to damage their homes after the two attacks.
The police are continuing the investigation.
