By Shabna Ullah
An 18-year-old waitress of Santa Rosa Restaurant & Bar on the Corentyne who was seen drinking with friends at ‘Dust Till Dawn,’ a bar at Port Mourant died after she was apparently gang raped early yesterday morning.
Around 5:30 am yesterday cane-cutters, on their way to work saw the teen, Deokali “Tina” Peter lying naked on the roadside obliquely opposite Dust Till Dawn, groaning in pain. She died at around 8 am without seeking medical attention.
Three acquaintances are in custody assisting with investigations and a post- mortem examination is expected to be performed today.
One of the cane-harvesters took off his shirt and gave it to the young lady to cover herself and they then carried her to residents who assisted her with a pair of pants. Peter who was shivering asked the residents for some water and they gave it to her and returned indoors.
The residents said that the woman tried in vain to flag down transportation to go to the hospital while calls made to the police went unanswered. The teen was covered with mud and her clothes which police later found nearby were also muddy.
Police sources told Stabroek News that the teen who hails from Skeldon left home two years ago and currently has no fixed place of abode. She had last stayed at a friend’s house at Hampshire Squatting Area.
Another acquaintance who works at the Embassy Club bar told this newspaper that she was drinking at Dust Till Dawn with two male friends when she saw Peter entering with a group of young men around 11 pm.
She said that Peter who appeared to be intoxicated asked for a cigarette and remained at the bar with the men and continued drinking. The friend said she left to go home and didn’t hear anything about Peter after that.
According to police reports, the waitresses at Dust Till Dawn related that after the bar closed up at 1 am and they were leaving to go home and they saw Peter sitting alone on the roadside.
The friend’s mother related that the teen was out drinking earlier and had returned home and was already “tight.” She said she told her she was “going out on the road again and ah tell she don’t go because she de tell me her stomach hurting she.”
The woman said Peter insisted on going out and she was shocked to receive the news of her demise yesterday morning.
this is just savagery. i hope whoever did this gets put away forever
such a young woman with life ahead of her. this is not right!
This is heartbreaking. I have a young daughter back home… I pray for her everyday.
My condolences to the family.
There are so many questions here but my first is what drove her away from home at 16 years old?
At 16, many teenagers are either preparing for CXCs or discovering all the possibilities, opportunities, and, yes challenges, life has to offer them. Cultural practices in the East Indian community, notwithstanding, another question is what drove this teenager, to apparently drink her life away?
This is a sad indictment on our society, on so many levels. Remember “it’s not my problem..it’s not my sister or daughter…” so no one cared to stop for this woman and render assistance when she was seeking help . So sad
Man is this really the Guyana I know, sad sad sad made tears fall from my eyes
i think for rape we should go back to savagery when it comes to the guilty party here.we need to send a message.CUT OFF the thing that he used to defile the victim with
Sad story about the life of many young women in our society today. I wonder when STAMP IT OUT will start to make an impact.
Sympathy to the family of Tina.
Peace people!
This is so painful to read, there must be stronger laws for rape.
The country must have more opportunities open to young women.
Deepest sympathies to the family.
Hmmmm…I see only certain comments that compliment this paper’s opinion are posted. Can someone explain why my last comment was not posted. Thanks
Moderator’s note: Your comment on the drowning case was posted.
@ YoungBoi
is there some type of rule saying this paper should publish everything you send in? :)
you know you can start your own paper and publish everything you and everyone else have to say
on this murder, the silence and inaction of the Ministry of Human Services is shameful…and don’t forget Shaneiza Khan in Enmore who complained to the Police for four years before she was murdered. still waiting to hear from Priya Manickchand or any of the other WOMEN ministers. this is just shameful, disgusting behaviour as our women are being savaged and brutalised daily.
it’s gotta stop
Ok Mr. President, where is your forensics team? CSI, Maybe you should use the Bullistics and DNA experts to check this girls clothing and find the criminals that did this?
Of course that would be to much to ask since this has nothing to do with Government huh?
Doc.