Minister calls for proof into how pesticides are accessed

High suicide rate

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence has reminded that investigations ought to be conducted in suicide deaths caused by the intake of pesticides or other toxic chemicals, to ascertain whether safety and best practices were breached.
Lawrence in an interview with Guyana Times on Tuesday explained that these chemicals are regulated by the Pesticide and Toxic Chemicals Control Board and by law, an investigation should be conducted.

“There is something in their guiding principles which states that there should be an investigation in terms of persons who are not authorised to use pesticides, how they access it so there is the statute which speaks to the investigation of those persons who would have purchased and not secured it in a manner in which they ought to do and so other persons were able to use it to end their lives so that is already there it’s just for them to get up and get it done,” she said.
The Minister was responding to a call made by one of the speakers at a programme she attended, geared towards raising awareness on suicide.
At the said event, it was revealed that Guyana experienced a “significant” decline in the number of deaths caused by suicide with 141 cases recorded in 2018 when compared to the 184 documented in 2017.
A majority of the deaths were as a result of pesticide use followed by persons hanging themselves.
It was also noted that for every death, about 20 to 25 people attempt suicide, which translates to about 3500 persons who try to harm themselves annually.
Only on Monday a father of three killed himself after forcing his estranged wife and three-year-old daughter to consume a poisonous substance
Dead is 57-year-old taxi driver Balkarana Persaud called “Clement”, of Lot 59 Martyrs Ville, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD). His reputed wife, Kavita Persaud, and her three-year-old daughter, Sarswati Persaud, are presently battling for their lives at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
According to reports, the now dead man’s estranged wife, Kavita, did not reside at the Mon Repos home, but the couple’s young daughter, Sarswati, lived with her father. This newspaper was told that Kavita, who separated from her husband a few months ago, would visit the home to assist with taking care of the child.
However, on Monday morning at about 07:30h, neighbours heard screams from Balkarana Persaud’s home, and upon investigating, they discovered the trio lying on the floor, frothing from their mouths.
The neighbours sounded an alarm and persons living in the street rushed to the scene. However, Balkarana Persaud had already died when the efforts were made to save his life.
Guyana Times was told that Kavita’s relatives, who live a few houses away from this residence, rushed the mother and daughter to the hospital.