Mother still aches for missing daughter

Six years later

Almost six years after her mysterious disappearance, the mother of Babita Sarjou said she needs some closure and really wants to know the whereabouts of her daughter.

Champa Seonarine said it is quite unlike her daughter to disappear without a trace, leaving her then four-year-old son.
The grieving mother spoke with the media Monday, following a press conference hosted by the Caribbean American Domestic Violence Awareness (CADVA) group at the Pegasus Hotel in honour of her daughter.
Sarjou, an employee of BK International, and of Timehri Public Road, East Bank Demerara, left her desk and computer unattended in November 2010 and never returned.
Seonarine said all she needs at this time is closure. She said the police have not been doing anything to locate her child.
“Whether Babita is dead or not, I need to find her,” Seonarine said, fighting back tears. “I need closure to this case, and I am calling on each and every one out there who knows something about Babita, that they have a heart and some feelings and come out and say something”, Seonarine, who now resides in the US pleaded.
She said her family feels that her daughter’s estranged husband referred to as “Anand” had something to do with her disappearance.
Reports are that there were several instances of domestic violence reports to both Kitty and Timehri Police Stations. Sarjou disappeared the night before Diwali in 2010.
“She said to me ‘mammi I’d be home at 9’o clock’ that night, but Babita never showed up,” the mother sobbed.
No one has any idea what occurred between Babita and her husband on the night of the motorcade. Seonarine said Anand has never spoken to them concerning that night. The Police held him for questioning for 72 hours and then released him.
During the investigations, samples of an undergarment were sent to Trinidad and Tobago for DNA testing, but, according to Seonarine, no results ever came back.
Meanwhile, CADVA’s head Diane Madray said while Guyana does not have a law for missing persons, the organisation is hoping to have a bill passed in memory of Babita Sarjou.
She said the law, which the organisation hopes to name the Babita Sarjou Missing Person’s Law, should be considered as there is a need to take Sarjou’s case and set precedence so that change could be made.
She said Sarjou’s disappearance was marked as a case without a trace and the organisation has been working closely with her family to advocate for the reopening of an investigation with Director of Public Prosecutions Shalimar Ali-Hack.
Madray said: “If we do not find Ms Sarjou alive or dead, November 2016 will mark 6 years of her disappearance and there has been no follow-up to assist the family on this matter by the Guyana Police Force. This case has appeared to have gone cold or I would say freezing on a cold winter’s night”.
She said she met with Ally-Hack and her assistant Friday, and was again informed that the Guyana Police Force has not sent the file since her first request.
“This was now my 3rd request on the 18 of March 2016.  At this time DPP informed me that they will request the file once again on March 21st and up to my second meeting at the DPP Office on Friday, April 1st no file had returned.
On March 14, 2016 meeting with Minister Ramjattan who I know to be a no nonsense kind of minister would also ensure the file is located. An official letter was submitted to his office on March 28, 2016 and on March 29 a response was given that my request would be passed on to Commissioner of Police for his response on my written request.”