The family of 32-year-old Harrynarine Ramnawaj of Lot 8 Estate Road, Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara, said they feel cheated by the justice system since the man that killed Ramnawaj and maimed his father received “a slap on the wrist” and is now out on bail, driving fear into them.
From left: Chandrapaul Ramnawaj, Sattie Ramnawaj, Ana Alcazar and Kavita Ramdial
On October 15, 2017, Ramnawaj and father, Chandrapaul were at their Estate Road, Cane Grove farm when they were confronted by a cutlass wielding alleged ‘drug addict’ who unleashed fury on them. Harrynarine was chopped to the arm and bled out while on route to the hospital and one of his father’s fingers was severed.
Dead: Harrynarine Ramnawaj
The suspect, Ramesh Persaud, 43, of Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara, was on Monday last charged for the manslaughter of Ramnawaj, as well as the wounding of the dead man’s father, Chandrapaul; all on the same day in question. Persaud was granted $300,000 bail and is expected to return to court on December 1.
However, the dead man’s parents are now calling for their son’s killer to be charged with murder and not manslaughter. They added that they are fearful for their lives and cannot go about their day normally, as the suspect resides a few houses away from them.
Guyana Times contacted a senior member of the Guyana Police Force – who asked not to be identified – for clarification purposes, and it was disclosed that the decision to charge Persaud with manslaughter and not murder was made based on legal advice which was sent to Police from the Director of Public Prosecutions. In addition, this publication was also told that manslaughter is a bailable offence in Guyana.
The dead man’s mother, Sattie, said since the incident, the family is yet to go back into their farm and they are suffering financially. “Nah far from we he live. We ga pass he fuh go the backdam. Me nah come out from da house fuh go nowhere before meh see am,” she said.
In addition, Ramnawaj’s relatives explained that they have reasons to doubt the intentions of the Mahaica/Cane Grove Police, since they had not even informed the family of the initial court date.
“When we went ah the Mahaica station, them tell me husband them want he deh. When we guh, he give a statement and them tell we when ah the court date them guh inform we. Sunday was we funeral, and we aint know that them got court Monday up Mahaicony. Them nah tell abbey that them got court on Monday at Mahaicony but them been seh them guh inform we… Them seh them guh mek we know which day we ga go to court,” the grieving woman lamented.
The distraught woman explained that after the funeral, and with no information forthcoming from the Police, she decided to venture to the Mahaica Police Station where she was informed that the case was already called in the court.
“When meh guh, ah come the Corporal come from court. He seh today is court day, he looking out for Chanderpaul. Me seh ‘how yuh guh looking out fuh Chanderpaul? You nah mek me know that Chanderpaul have to go to court’. He seh yes, he send two Policeman at the funeral to inform abbey… This time no Policeman nah come ah the funeral,” she said.
Meanwhile, the dead man’s wife of five years, Ana Alcazar, told this publication that her major concern was the fact that her husband’s murderer received bail.
“Three hundred thousand dollars bail nah supposed to be granted. He kill my husband and he walking on the street like nothing happened. Our lives are in constant fear. He leave me and my son and family to mourn and he walking on the street. How can that be fair? We need the Government [and relevant authorities] to see and come out and give us justice,” she said while noting that an example must be set.
Alcazar said she is finding it hard to cope. The woman cried for justice for her husband, noting that he was the sole breadwinner.
It was previously reported that on October 15, 2017, at around 13:00h, the now dead father of one and his 59-year-old father, Chanderpaul went to their cash crop farm when they came across Persaud cutting their vegetation and a wooden structure had been erected.
Upon approaching the man to enquire what was happening, the accused reportedly began to threaten the father and son before whipping out his cutlass and dealing Harrynarine one chop to his left arm. The 31-year-old reportedly fell to the ground and when his father went to his aide, Persaud dealt another chop in his direction. The 59-year-old man blocked the attack with his right hand, resulting in his index finger being severed.
With a bloodied hand, Harrynarine fled the scene and managed to use his cellphone to contact his brother-in-law to inform him of the attack.
