Convicted Guyanese drug trafficker Somwattie Persaud has been having adjustment issues and “psychological difficulties” since her incarceration in prison.

Somwattie Persaud

This was the testimony of consultant psychiatrist Dr Brian Maclachlan, who was called as a character witness on Persaud’s behalf in the No. 5 Supreme Court yesterday.
Persaud and her husband Lemme Michael Campbell, both of 106 New Garden Street, Georgetown; Christopher Andrew Bacchus, and his wife Dianne, both of Bay Gardens, Bay Land, St Michael; Wayne Gavin Green, of North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, and Bridgefield, St Thomas, and Rohan Shastri Rambarran, a businessman of Georgetown were convicted of possession and trafficking in 91.3 kilos of cannabis and 119.4 kilos of cocaine on November 30, 2005.

Campbell and Rambarran were also convicted of importing both cannabis and cocaine on November 29, 2005. The doctor said Persaud was first seen at the Psychiatric Hospital in December 2006 after having been referred from the prison because she had not eaten for the week. There were no other symptoms indicative of depression.

Some time later, Maclachlan said, Persaud was seen at the prison. She said she was not eating and expressed “suicidal notions”.

The doctor further said Persaud related a family history of suicide and was assessed as having an adjustment disorder with depression.

He said the woman was again seen in April 2008 with a history of not sleeping well and feelings of anxiety. The following month she was better but remained on medication. However, in October that same year, Persaud was back at the Psychiatric Hospital with reports that she was suffering from depression and had been having suicidal ideas for a short period.
The doctor said she was assessed as having a depressive episode.

Weeks later, she was still depressed and said she was fed up with her circumstances and would not be eating even though she was not going on a hunger strike.

In the end, Maclachlan said, Persaud was diagnosed as having an adjustment disorder with depression.
When cross-examined by attorney Arthur Holder, the psychiatrist said Persaud was detained, at one point, for five days at the Psychiatric Hospital.

In answer to Queen’s Counsel Ralph Thorne, he said only those whose psychiatric conditions were taken seriously are admitted.
Maclachlan said Persaud was having “psychological difficulties” and he concluded they related to her remand in prison.
The matter continues on Friday. (Heather Lyn Evanson – Barbados Nation)