Onika Luke, the 16-year-old waitress who was shot to her chin two Saturdays ago, has been transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) and is awaiting another surgery after the bullet that was lodged in her throat moved.
Yesterday, her brother Wendell Ranjee told Stabroek News that they moved Luke from the Woodlands Hospital after the doctors there were not doing anything. He explained that the bill at the private hospital amounted to over a million dollars and no surgery was performed nor did the doctors make any attempt to remove the bullet.
At the GPH, Ranjee said, doctors attempted to treat the inflammation to the throat which resulted in the bullet moving. Luke had to undergo a CT scan to find out where it was lodged. The brother said they had to borrow money in order to have the CT scan performed.
He said the family is also awaiting word from the lawmen regarding the status of the investigations.
Ranjee added that his family is willing to accept any assistance from the public to assist with the medical bills. He related that he made several calls to the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs and was promised that a call would be returned but he never got any call. Persons desirous of assisting the family can contact Ranjee on 691-4910.
Luke, of Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara, was working at the Lucky Star Chinese Restaurant at Better Hope when she was shot. The police, in a press release, had said Luke was on duty when a man entered the restaurant and ordered a meal. According to the release, “while paying for the meal, the man held onto the hands of Luke, who was behind some grill, pulled out a firearm and demanded cash. Luke resisted and was shot to her chin by the man who escaped.”
Luke, who is also a student of St John’s College, worked after school to make ends meet. Her brother said she started working at the restaurant three months ago from 5pm to 10 pm daily.
