The police and the relatives of the HIV counsellor/tester who was found dead at the Parika Health Centre on Monday are anxiously awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination scheduled for this morning.

Seeraj Persaud

When Seeraj Persaud was found dead in his office there were no marks of violence, but according to reports there was a fine line around his neck. The man’s laptop computer, an expensive phone, his wallet and a bunch of keys were missing. Checks were subsequently made at his Lot 8 Hydronie, East Bank Essequibo home but they were not found.

Police said yesterday that investigations are continuing into the matter and they are awaiting a post mortem which will show how the man died. This will also determine how the investigation will be treated.

Linda Johnson, the facility’s health visitor, had recalled that some time after lunch, she saw someone enter Persaud’s office but did not pay much attention to who it was. She said that two women, who had scheduled counselling sessions with Persaud, were sitting outside the office for some time and one of them eventually decided to knock on the closed door.

Johnson had explained that because of the confidentiality involved, Persaud’s door would always be closed during sessions. After knocking several times and getting no response, the woman decided to open the door and saw Persaud on the floor.

According to Johnson, the woman informed a volunteer, who on checking found Persaud in a crouched position on the floor and ran from the room screaming. This was around 1.50 pm.

Officers at the police station, located obliquely opposite the facility, were informed and they immediately began conducting investigations.