A Black Water, Region One family was forced to scamper for assistance after their relative died in Georgetown, highlighting the difficulties many persons who reside in the hinterland face when it comes to transporting the bodies of their loved ones back to their communities.
Aubrey Augustus Thomas of Black Water died at the Georgetown Public Hospital two Sundays ago. He had been hospitalised for two weeks at the medical institution after he suffered a stroke and was air-dashed to the city.
The family first approached the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs (MOIPA) but was told that they could get no financial assistance. In desperation Thomas’ son, Evlon Thomas, sought the assistance of the opposition PPP which provided them with money to transport the body back to the Region One (Barima/Waini) community. Party officials also reached out to the Ministry and a senior MOIPA official undertook the responsibility of ensuring payment to prepare the body for travel.
