Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Mar 22, 2012 News
…neighbours chastise mother
By: Romila Boodram
A tale of horror is unfolding as the circumstances surrounding the death of a two-month-old baby who died on Tuesday last, continue to surface.
Andy Hunte died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) hours after he was struck in the head during a drunken brawl between his parents at a rum-shop.
Villagers of Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara (ECD) have confirmed that the parents are homeless, alcoholics.
The father, ‘Dougla’ (only name given) is said to hail from the North West District and was yesterday captured by police while hiding in a latrine at First Street Success, East Coast Demerara.
Police are of the impression that he was in the process of fleeing to the North West Region, since his bag was already packed.
He is currently in custody at the Sparendaam Police Station, assisting with the investigation.
The mother, Tarwan Ramgobin, who was initially held by police on Tuesday night, has since been released.
When Kaieteur News visited the neighbourhood yesterday, villagers related a sordid tale of starvation and lengthy days exposed to the ravages of the sun for little Hunte.
Ramgobin was described by neighbours as a ‘careless and drunken’ mother.
This publication was told that Ramgobin was previously involved with a man from the Pigeon Island, ECD area and had borne him eight children.
She reportedly left him after she met ‘Dougla’ at the same rum-shop where her son met his demise.
Ramgobin bore three kids for the North West man, two of whom were previously taken away by the Human Services Ministry.
When Kaieteur News visited the rum-shop where ‘baby Hunte’ was struck, persons were initially hesitant to speak.
Patrons at the shop have since related that Dougla was drinking Banko Wine in the shop when the woman came in with the baby in her hands.
She reportedly took away the intoxicant from ‘Dougla’ and consumed it.
The patron added that after she drank the Banko Wine, Dougla bought another one at which point in time the woman grabbed it and attempted to drink it.
This reportedly angered Dougla.
The now dead child’s father then reportedly removed his belt and attempted to hit the woman “but she pushed the baby in front of her to avoid getting lashes.”
The ‘belt buckle’ eventually struck the baby, immediately rendering him unconscious.
“He father collect he and tek he to the hospital and the mother just went home like she nah bin care,” a villager said.
Many persons in the area told Kaieteur News that the woman would often use the baby as a shield to protect herself during the regular beatings at the hands of ‘Dougla.’
“Every time the man go fuh beat her she does always push the baby in front.”
This publication understands that Dougla would normally do “nick-nacks” jobs for people and whenever he is working Ramgobim would normally sit to wait on him with baby in hand.
Some have said that she would usually pack a bag with “some baby stuff” and walk around in a drunken state while begging persons to lodge at their ‘bottom house.’
Kaieteur News spoke with a shabbily dressed Ramgobin, who continues to maintain that she is not an alcoholic and refuted all claims made by the villagers.
As Ramgobin began to relay her version of the incident to this publication, she left claiming that she was going to answer a telephone call but disappeared.
Neighbours opined that the woman was scared and went into hiding.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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