Two children—ages six and nine years—escaped possible death yesterday after a vehicle belonging to their grandfather was firebombed and the part of the family’s $3 million home was scorched in the blaze.
Four adults, including former councillor of St Ann's/Cascade Kenrick Preudhomme, also escaped unhurt. He was a councillor under the Congress of the People in the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation.
Speaking with the T&T Guardian at his home at Plaisance Road, Cascade, Preudhomme said the family members were asleep when the incident occurred.
He said at about 12.45 am he was awakened by a strange sound. A neighbour reports seeing someone running out of Preudhomme's yard and entering into a darkly-tinted vehicle which was parked several metres away.
“I woke up when I heard something fall, like if someone threw something in the yard. I went outside and checked and saw my Mazda 4x4 van, valued at $300,000, up in flames.
“I called out for help while I tried to put out the blaze myself with a hose which was hooked up to the water tank. The fire appliances quickly responded and was able to save my home, except for my van, but I thanking God still for life, that me and my family, including my two grandchildren, were safe and sound,” Preudhomme said.
Asked why would anyone want to bring harm to him and his family, Preudhomme said he believed the attack was related to his stance he took against a religious organisation based in central Trinidad. Preudhomme said he began attending the church but stopped after he opposed its teachings and practices.
“I did not agree with things there and I am a person I speak out and I raised issue with the leadership and it was after that I started to receive threats so eventually I left.
“When I left, which was two weeks ago, I went to a weekly newspaper where I told the editor there what was happening and after they did their investigations they published an article. After the article was made public, the threats against me increased, escalating to this now,” Preudhomme said.
He called on the relevant authorities not to “leave any stone unturned” as he described it as a serious incident.
“I am taking precaution at this time because I think, if one can come in my property to do such a thing, the probability is that they can go beyond that.
“These are some of the issues that we have to deal with in society. There are people who are willing to come out and talk to the police and some, I understand, who have already alerted the police in the past,” Preudhomme said.
T&T Guardian was told by a police source at the Belmont Police Station that investigating officers would carry out an extensive investigation into the incident, especially based on the allegations raised by Preudhomme.