Dear Editor,
My 16 year old daughter Shanta Shakti who I want to get back was discovered missing from my home on Thursday (31.7.08) and the same day a report was made by me at the Aurora Police station. But without seeing her since then, information surfaced that she got married out of the district last Sunday (3.8.08) without my knowledge and that of her father Nizam, who is presently working in the interior in Region 1.
When this was made known at the station I expected that those who were behind the marriage would have been contacted because the police realized that my daughter is still not 18 years old. But they made me to understand, “You daughter done married and the police can’t do nothing.”
It was brought to my attention that on the very Thursday, my mother [name provided] went to my home and removed my daughter with all her belongings while I was at work as a labourer with the Pomona District Council.
In truth and in fact, my mother did contact me about her getting a man to marry my daughter, but I told her that my husband had to be consulted to make a decision in the matter and this was never done. At the time, my daughter was under my control and custody and my mother had no right to arrange a wedding for her without my knowledge and that of her father. My daughter had stayed with the grandmother when she was a baby, but from 3 years old onwards she was living with me.
The man to whom my daughter got married was staying at the home of a goldsmith at Good Hope, Essequibo Coast, from where the couple left with others to get married, but where the ceremony took place is still unknown to me.
How they were married, whether legally or otherwise, I don’t know, but all I am hearing is that the man was married before and that he is from Industry, East Coast Demerara.
Worse still is that the Aurora Police are giving no help after I had cause to contact the Divisional Commander, and I was advised to go back to him again.
I can’t see any reason for the police refusal to contact the goldsmith and moreso my mother and others connected with organizing the marriage, and to let me know where my daughter is to get her reunited with me.
Yours faithfully,
Anita Singh
Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to Mr Henry Greene, Commissioner of Police (ag) for any comments he may wish to make.
