A Belize City father says his home in the Lake Independence area was targeted in a firebombing at dawn on Sunday. Justo Augustine says that if it weren’t for an uncanny premonition of his own undoing, he could have been burnt to death as he slept. We found out more today.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
A pile of burnt wood and destroyed personal property is all that’s left after fire ripped through this Police Street home on Sunday morning. Justo Augustine is the head of household, he lived there along with his brothers. Though he wasn’t at home when the fire started, he’s sure it was the product
of a deliberate attack with deadly intent.
Justo Augustine, Fire Victim
“I can’t tell you exactly what gaan ahn but I know they blow up my house because my cousin who I left in the house to sleep in there, he told me he heard the bang and when he heard the bang, he heard it two times, and the fire run fast in a blaze. So it is something highly toxic the man threw in there to blow me up or something, somebody throw in there. I don’t know who or exactly but I know dah blow they wanted to blow up the house and they wanted to kill me.”
Jules Vasquez,
“But you weren’t there that night.”
Justo Augustine,
“I wasn’t there. I didn’t sleep there for four nights because everytime I go into that house, I feel like they are gassing me out or somebody is choking me or something. Something was abnormal about the spot and that is why I didn’t sleep in there.”
Jules Vasquez,
“So you had like a vibes, a premonition?”
Justo Augustine,
“Yes a real vibes like somebody telling me this is their house and not for me and for me to come out. If I never followed my vibes, I would still be in there and just blow up.”
Jules Vasquez,
“Do you have any idea who would want to do such a thing to you?”
Justo Augustine,
“I have an idea big man but I don’t really want to call no name. I will leave that to the most high almighty.”
Jules Vasquez,
“So you will not try for no retaliation or nothing?”
Justo Augustine,
“I am not into retaliation against nobody. I never think about hurt people.”
Fortunately two relatives who were inside a male and a female escaped unhurt. They reported hearing something thrown at the house.
Kenneth Mortis, Fire Department
“One neighbour in particular told us that prior to the fire, she heard a crashing sound followed by flame coming out of the living room portion of the building. The department has been able to speak with Justo as yet. We have questions we need to ask him so we are hoping that we comes in sometime today and that will help us speed up the process of the investigation. We don’t know exactly if it was an intentionally set fire or if it was a negligent fire, if was an electrical fire. This time our hands are caught between a rock and a hard place but we definitely need to speak to Justo and see what we can come up with from there.”
And while the Fire Department wants answers, this father wants his life back.
Justo Augustine,
“I lost everything big man. I lost my TV which cost $1,500 and odd dollars. I lost my sofa set which cost seven hundred and odd dollars, my bed which cost about five hundred and odd dollars with the mattress on it. I lost two bed and two mattress because then I have a next bed and mattress in there. I had my table, my TV stand, everything everything everything.”
Justo Augustine doesn’t have a phone, but anyone wanting to assist him and his daughter can visit him on Police Street which is right off Western Avenue.
