Heavy equipment destroyed at Buccament Bay Resort

The owners of a piece of heavy machinery are at a loss as to why their equipment was destroyed by fire.{{more}}

They would also like to know who was responsible for its destruction.

Austin and Samantha Bullock, the proprietors of a heavy equipment rental company, and the owners of the JCD 4XC backhoe, suspect that foul play is involved in the destruction of the vehicle, which was on the premises of the Buccament Bay Resort, where it was employed.

Speaking to SEARCHLIGHT on behalf of her husband, Samantha said that the vehicle was destroyed in a mysterious fire on the night of Thursday, May 17, some time before 10:00 p.m., but they were not made aware until the following day, when Austin turned up on the site, ready for work.

“He went down the Friday morning, when he got to the machine he realized the machine was burnt.”

“Nobody called us the night; they didn’t call the police either; my husband went to the police the Friday morning when he got there and realized what happened….”

Bullock said that although the fire was put out by members of the resort’s security team, her husband was not even informed of the incident when he turned up for work on Friday morning.

“They saw him pass the morning, nobody stop him and tell him anything. They allow him to reach straight to the machine to see it himself.”

Bullock told SEARCHLIGHT that the security team informed her and her husband that they were not responsible for what happened.

“They can’t give an explanation as to how the tractor burned… and that they are not responsible.

“If they can’t secure a tractor, how can they secure people?” she queried.

According to Bullock, there is strong reason to believe that the machine was targeted for destruction, and that it was an act of jealousy.

“Our name is on our tractor, and everybody who works there knows our tractor, and Harlequin had other stuff parked there. There were other vehicles parked there and as a matter of fact, it was parked next to a container and apparently they said that container has in a new piece of machinery for Harlequin.

“We saw like they break off the panels that cover the engine, and stuff paper and throw gas, and they just burn out the whole thing.

“A lot of hoses burnt out, the engine, the transmission the whole cab, everything.”

She said that this was not the first time her husband was targeted at the site: not too long ago, someone threw a stone on the hood of his jeep, which cracked the windscreen.

Bullock is asking for anyone who may have information on the matter to contact the police, or contact her husband directly at 593-4458.

She said that although she was unhappy about what happened, she is leaving the entire situation in God’s hands.

“God is in control. These machines do not belong to us, they belong to God; and He will fight that battle for us. I am a God fearing person and I believe that God will do what he has to do.”

SEARCHLIGHT made calls to the Layou Police Station, who confirmed that the matter had been reported and is being investigated, and to the Buccament Bay Resort, but we were unable to contact the resort’s head of security, as he was out of state.

This is the third report in recent times of a fire at the resort.

One villa was damaged two weeks ago by fire, while just under a year ago, a fire in another villa was allegedly started by disgruntled employees.(JJ)