Persaud’s mother, Saymaa Persaud and his step-father, Adolphus Ramnarain told Stabroek News that the driver of the car was never arrested and only briefly detained after the accident which occurred last week Monday at the Friendship, East Bank Demerara public road. The car was also released and police told her that they cannot do anything until Vishram gets better, they said. “The doctor say we have to hold hopes and pray and wait and see what gon happen”, Saymaa said. “According to what we see, he nah gon feel good because he is very critical”.
On November 8, Vishram was going to purchase a drink when he was hit by a car at a bridge on the Friendship public road sometime between 4pm and 5pm. Saymaa told this newspaper that a boy came to inform them that he was hit and she rushed out. When she reached to the spot, he had already been taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.
He was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Saymaa said that the bridge where the incident occurred was undergoing repairs and an employee who directs traffic there told her that she had put up the ‘Stop’ sign for vehicles heading north to the city.
The vehicle was heading north. Vishram was heading south. “She seh the vehicle bore and that is how he hit the child”, Saymaa recounted. She said that her son’s bicycle was under the vehicle but she left the scene and went to the hospital where he had been taken.
Meantime, Ramnarain said that from reports received, the driver of the vehicle was about to drive away but because the bicycle was under the vehicle, he was forced to stop. He said that after the incident, the driver -who had two passengers- a male and female, took the bicycle, put it in the car’s trunk and went to the Grove Police Station.
He said that the driver was only briefly detained but released on station bail and the vehicle was only held for a day and night.
He said that the police have said that they would have to fill out a medical form after Vishram gets better “and then they gon see what gon be the next move”. Dissatisfied with the police reaction, the parents complained to the Brickdam Police Station where they were heard and put on to a senior officer at Grove. On Thursday, the officer visited the hospital. “He said he sent other (ranks) and them coming and seh something else to what he go and see”, Ramnarain recounted.
However, they said, they have heard nothing since and are fearful of not getting any justice. They called for some action to be taken.
Meantime, Saymaa said that on her visits to the hospital, a woman purporting to be the mother of the driver, visits also but approaches her in a very aggressive manner. “This lady keep saying she working with the Ministry of Health and she gon show me she is who”, she said. Up to yesterday, Vishram had not shown any signs of improvement. He is suffering from serious head injuries, Saymaa said.
