The police in Region 3 (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) are probing the death of a one-year-old, who is suspected to have drowned in a trench behind her Harlem, West Coast Demerara (WCD) home on Monday afternoon.
The dead child has been identified as Aleena Mohamed of Lot 5 Harlem, WCD.
Stabroek News understands that the incident took place sometime between 5 pm and 6.30 pm while the child’s mother, Kaishrie Artie Ramchand was preparing to bathe her.
Reports are that as customary, Ramchand took Aleena to the bathroom situated in the backyard.
Whilst there, Kaishrie left the child and went to collect a towel. Upon her return, she noticed that the child was missing.
An alarm was raised and relatives immediately began to search for her.
Aleena’s body was subsequently found in the trench.
She was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Stabroek News understands that in the backyard there is a sheep pen which has two gates. One of the gates, leads to a trench. It is suspected that the child ventured out of the yard and fell into the trench.
Kaishrie yesterday told Stabroek News that the incident occurred in a short span of time.
“By time I go upstairs for this towel and come back, I couldn’t see back Aleena. Not even five minutes I didn’t take,” she said.
She said after she couldn’t find Aleena, she began to search around the yard.
“I start searching all over the yard because normally I know she does go by the flower tree and pick the flowers but I couldn’t see her anywhere,” she added.
By this time, she said her husband arrived home from work and she related to him what had happened.
It was Aleena’s father and other relatives who made the gruesome discovery.
“It hurt all ah we heart,” the dead child’s grandfather, Abdool Mohamed told Stabroek News.
Aleena’s body is currently at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination which is scheduled for today.
