Mahaica fruit vendor regains sight after acid attack

Shazaad Shaeed, 48, of 15 Supply, Mahaica who was burnt with acid two weeks ago is thankful that he has regained his sight but is now worried about his skin which he says is “raw round the eye and it does rank [has an odour]”.

Shaeed, who is a fruit vendor, was discharged from the Georgetown Public Hospital last Tuesday. But he said he was not given any medication for his burns. He was only told to return to the clinic on Thursday.

“I feeling real sick. The flesh around me eyes is really, really white and meh whole skin rank, rank oozing inflammation,” Shaeed said.

Two weeks ago, Shaeed was lured out of his home by some men around 3 am. He said he was awakened by the sounds of his dogs barking and someone calling out to him. The men who were known to him said they had something for him from his sister who lives a village away.

Shaeed decided to go downstairs but when he opened the door, he noticed that the boy who he saw on the veranda was not there. Instead there was someone else. Realising that something was not right he made a move to hide behind his door but the man threw a bucket of acid at his face.

Shaeed’s, entire face is black from the burns while his body is splattered with black streaks where the acid ran down his skin.  He was in danger of losing his sight but yesterday he told this newspaper that he can see again, “Father Almighty is my Creator and Healer… He give me back my sight.”

The man said his wife had visited the Human Services Ministry in order to seek medical assistance for his burns. Shaeed broke into tears as he said that his condition has his family afraid to approach him.

“I need a lot of help and I shame I don’t know where to go or who to ask and I’m afraid because me ain’t want be embarrassed.”

Meanwhile, police said they are still investigating the matter. Police said they are looking for two suspects who are from the Mahaica area.