Arsonists attempt to torch Enterprise and Annandale Primary Schools

Jan 03, 2011 News

Thanks to the alertness of security guards and the assistance of members of the community, the Enterprise Primary School on the East Coast of Demerara was spared from complete destruction by fire early yesterday morning.

A section of the Enterprise Primary School that was torched by arsonists.

However, a small section of the school bears the distinct marks of what appears to be a deliberately set fire.
Police in a press statement said that investigations are being conducted into the fire which occurred at about 04:00 hours
According to the police the fire was observed by security guards on duty at the school and was extinguished by residents who formed a bucket brigade.
Investigators strongly believe that the incident was the work of arsonists, since two plastic containers with a quantity of suspected diesel were found in the building.
This newspaper was told that at the time the fire started, there were two security guards on duty at the front of the school building.
However, the suspected arsonists apparently gained entry through the back.
There are no clear motives for the suspected arson but this newspaper was informed that it could have stemmed from ager over police actions in the community.
According to reports the police had responded to several appeals from residents about excessive noise emanating from a number of music sets.
The police proceeded to shut down the music sets amidst much anger from revelers.
Investigators are hoping to lift prints from the containers the retrieve from the scene as they try to ascertain who was responsible for the fire.
And at around 19:20 hours, security guards at the Annandale Primary School also had to use buckets to put out a fire that was started there.
Sources informed this newspaper that the damage at Annandale is significantly less than that at Enterprise since the guards acted quickly to put out the fire.
Police recovered a small bottle containing what appeared to be gasoline at the scene.
The two incidents have forced police in collaboration with security personnel at schools along the East Coast of Demerara to step up their vigilance.