The mother and daughter who were allegedly forced to ingest a poisonous substance on Monday, remain patients at the Georgetown Public Hospital according to Commander of ‘C’ Division Calvin Brutus.
Brutus in a telephone interview told Stabroek News that the three year-old daughter is hospitalised in the Intensive Care Unit at the public health facility while the mother, Kavita Persaud, remains hospitalised in the ward.
When asked if investigators were able to establish the motive behind the poisoning, the commander responded in the negative. He explained that investigators have not been able to question the mother since she was not speaking.
On Monday morning between 8 and 10 am, Kavita was involved in a dispute with her estranged husband after she visited the home. She was living a short distance away after she separated from him.
The man Balkaran Persaud, 57, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was rushed after he was discovered at his home unconscious. He reportedly ingested a poisonous substance before forcing Kavita and their three year old to also consume it.
A relative said the couple had been separated for the last five months and it is suspected that they had a confrontation before the poisoning.
A relative, Lilawatie Ramlakhan, explained that neighbours informed her that they heard Kavita screaming and that, led them to the house.
She said when the neighbours arrived, they found Kavita in the yard, while Balkaran was lying in the house and the child was lying on a bed.
The woman said that at the time of the suspected confrontation, only Balkaran, his wife and the daughter were at the Lot 59 Martyr’s Ville, Mon Repos, East Coast Deme-rara home. Balkaran’s two other daughters were with Ramlakhan.
The neighbours found the bottle containing the poisonous substance in the house.
The woman stated that it is unclear what transpired yesterday morning since only the three were at home. She stated that from the disruption in the house, they suspect the couple had a fight as torn pieces of clothing belonging to Balkaran were found in the bedroom.
The police were summoned and Ramlakhan said neighbours rushed the family to the hospital, where Balkaran was pronounced dead on arrival.
The couple while living together would be engaged in domestic quarrels. Balkaran had complained to Ramlakhan that Kavita would not cook for him nor undertake any domestic chores.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the poisonings.
If you or someone you know are having thoughts of committing suicide, you can seek help from the Inter-Agency Suicide Prevention Helpline through the following means:
Telephone: 223-0818, 223-0009 and 223-0001
Mobile: 600-7896 or 623-4444
Email: guyagency@yahoo.com
