The father of Karamchand Khemraj, the teen who lost his life in last month’s hit-and-run accident along the Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD) Public Road, is contemplating settlement, but only if a ‘good’ amount is being offered.
“Me been ah think, you know, meh son done dead and gone and if them come to a good settlement then, you know, me guh come to one agreement and thing, cause remember he done dead and gone, wah me guh do?…before me lose corn then lose husk,” Jaipaul Khemraj yesterday told Sunday Stabroek.
The accident, which occurred on Sunday, December 9, claimed the life of 15-year-old Khemraj, called ‘Ajay,’ a horse cart operator of Lot 44 Annandale West, ECD.
His friend, Reaz Shaw, a trainee mechanic of Lot 35 Annandale West, ECD, was critically injured. He was transferred from the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital to the High Dependency Unit (HDU) on Friday.
The teenagers, the police had said, rode out of a northern access road onto the public road and a white Toyota ‘Pitbull’ minibus, which was proceeding east along the northern carriageway of the said road, collided with the bicycle.
As a result, both teens fell on the roadway and sustained head injuries.
A few days after the accident, a minibus, which is suspected to be the vehicle used in the accident, was impounded after it was found covered in a yard at Mon Repos, ECD.
A woman who occupied the premises, was taken into custody, and she provided the police with an identification and address of a man, suspected to be the driver.
However, the man, who is said to be a Chinese businessman of Vigilance, ECD, is yet to be apprehended. It is suspected that he has fled to neighbouring Suriname.
Traffic Chief Linden Isles, yesterday told this newspaper that as the hunt continues, there has been no recent development with the case.
The accident was recorded by nearby surveillance cameras, which showed that the teens were struck from behind.
Attorney James Bond, who is representing the Chinese Association of Guyana, has approached the families, offering a quantity of cash in remorse of the incident, but the money has been refused.
Bond had previously told Stabroek News that the money is not being offered to settle the matter but rather out of remorse.
This, he had also said, would not interfere with the usual investigation of the matter.
However, when contacted yesterday, Bond explained to Stabroek News that the offer remains open and the families are welcome to approach him at any point for further discussion once a decision is made.
“…..The case has no way to go, the man (the driver) is not going to be charged but people are listening to everybody. Everybody becomes an expert in these matters. The offer is always open, they (the families) have my number they could call me, you know, reach out to me and I will communicate back to them,” Bond said.
He said Khemraj’s family had initially asked for a $10 million settlement but eventually broke it down to $5.5 million.
While he does not know what figure they are looking at presently, Bond said this can be negotiated.
“…..I do not want to call nobody back because whenever I was trying to be fair by having my clients apologize in terms of having them assist/compensate them (the families) for their loss, there was nothing, but if they want to discuss settlement, which is different from compensation, then I am open to whatever…..you know, I want to see at least they get some redress because I don’t want this here to go next five, six, seven, eight , nine, 10 months and then they realised you know what, this man is not coming back, this investigation is stalled; ‘Mr Bond we ready to negotiate, Mr Bond we ready for an offer’, then the people (Chinese Association) say look, forget about it,” Bond further explained.
Yacoob Khan, the injured teen’s father, said the talks for compensation/settlement remain less important to him as long as his son remains hospitalised.
Reaz he said, has since opened his eyes but is still unable to communicate with anyone.
Yacoob said the doctors have requested to meet with him tomorrow. “…Then me guh see wah really me guh do if me gah move he from hay (GPH) or wah”, he said.
Attorney Anil Nandlall, who resides in Annandale, had intervened and offered the families pro bono service.
