MUSLIMEEN BULLY HOUSEOWNER

Nine men and a woman, claiming to be members of the Jamaat Al Muslimeen and reportedly acting under orders from its leader Imam Yaseen Abu Bakr, surrounded a house in Princes Town in broad daylight  and ordered the owner to leave within 14 days or pay $3M, otherwise  “somebody will die on the premises.” The gang claimed that the palatial house situated on Armour Street, Princes Town belonged to hanged killer and drug lord Dole Chadee,  and that Chadee was owing the Jamaat $3M. They want the house to convert it into a rehabilitation centre for drug addicts and delinquents. One of the men claiming to be the leader of the gang, told police he was only delivering a message from the Imam. Owner of the house, contractor Ramnarace “Koyo” Ramlochan,  described the incident as “madness” and vehemently denied that the building belonged to Chadee or ever did. Ramlochan said that over the years people had always joked that the house belonged to Chadee but he never paid them much attention.

He explained such a malicious rumour got started because he, Ramlochan, was hired by Chadee as a contractor to build his houses and Hindu mandirs at Piparo. Ramlochan, said that he can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the land and house belong to him and not Chadee or anyone else as some people seem to think. Ramlochan said he started the house some 13 years ago and it is still unfinished. He explained that whenever he gets extra money he did some work on the house. He noted that over the years he took about five loans from the bank to continue work on the house. He said presently he is owing the bank money. He agreed that the house is palatial with intricate designs, but explained that as an architect and builder, he wanted to leave his two children something of a legacy — his ability to design and build beautiful  buildings. Ramlochan has been credited with the design and construction of some of the most beautiful houses and mandirs in the country. He recently completed the Trivini Hindu Mandir at Hardbargain in Williamsville. 

He said he was a bit bewildered  with the men’s claim that Abu Bakr had sent them and that the house belonged to Chadee. He reasoned that the Imam, with much resources available to him, could have easily done the homework and found out that neither Chadee nor anybody else has anything to do with the ownership or financing of his house. He said the only reason why his house is incomplete is because he does not have the money to complete it the way he wants it done. Since the incident, Ramlochan has hired armed security guards to patrol his premises. The Princes Town drama started last Wednesday just after midday when the gang, six of whom were dressed in Muslim garb,  surrounded the house of Ramlochan. The men and lone woman took up strategic positions around the house,  shaking doors to see if they were open.

They demanded to see Ramlochan who was not home at the time. However they told his sister who was home why they were there, who had sent them and what they wanted, among other things. Ramlochan was contacted and he informed the  police of the situation. A party of officers under the supervision of Supt Joseph Nathaniel and led by Sgt Nazrool Hosein went in search of the men. Shortly after, four of the men were found on a construction site where Ramlochan is working. Before the arrival of the police and Ramlochan, the men had demanded  information about the whereabouts of Ramlochan’s children and delivered the same message to the foreman of the site. They told the police party about who they thought the house belonged to and that they were only delivering a message from the Imam. Sgt Hosein and Sgt Errol Ramdath are carrying out further investigation.