2 men arrested in Barbados for burning green monkey alive

Police have arrested and formally charged two men with the offence of cruelty to animals, in connection with a green monkey being burned alive.

Matthew Omar Downes, 36, of Pasture Lane, Lammings, St. Joseph and Rico Jamar Maynard, 30, of Airy Hill, St Joseph were charged that between the 3rd and 20th day of April, they wantonly and cruelly abused, tortured and caused unnecessary suffering to an animal to wit a monkey in contravention of Section 3 Subsection (1)  clause (a) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act Chapter 144A.

Police were made aware of a video on the social media platform WhatsApp, which showed a monkey, caught in a metal cage, being doused with a substance and then set on fire whilst still in the cage.

Investigations were conducted, which led to the accused who were arrested and brought into custody.

They are scheduled to appear at the District ‘D’ Magistrates’ Court today