Parents of 6-year-old drowning victim seeks justice

…secures help from former AG who requested inquest

The relatives of a six-year-old child of Abrams Creek Primary School pupil who fell into the Pomeroon River, Region Two and drowned is calling for a thorough investigation into the incident.
The grieving parents of Ramesh Khanai, a Grade One is receiving legal assistance of former Attorney General Anil Nandlall.
The aggrieved father, Doodnauth Khanai, claimed that his son was at school when the incident occurred and as such, he received a message notifying him of the incident.
When he showed up, his son was nowhere to be found but was told that someone had made a few attempts to dive into the river to search for the missing lad. His

body was recovered later.
But the father said he wants justice for his child, because he feels that the drowning may have resulted due to negligence on the part of the teachers at the school entrusted with his care.
“My son was the first to down at the school, but before they had a few incidents…students at the school fell at the stelling but they would have parents who are close by would render assistance,” he explained. The man claims that the teachers would often leave the children unattended and would also leave the gate open, even though the stelling is close by to the school building.
He said, “When I tell the teacher that they don’t have interest with the children at this time, they turn and crying and that’s all…they only thing they said was he was a good student.”
The distraught father visited the former AG’s office on Tuesday, who was able to get a letter dispatched to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack seeking an inquest.
The letter was also copied to Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine, Crime Chief Paul Williams, ‘E’ Division Commander Khali Parshram, Education Minister Nicolette Henry, and Social Protection Minister Amna Ally to inform them and invite assistance or input they can give to the matter.
The attorney said that based on the facts that were presented to him, the incident happened as a result of negligence. He also noted that so far, the Education Ministry has not engaged in the matter, neither has the Social Protection Ministry, although this incident requires more attention.
“Both ministries should have gotten involved in the matter. And an investigation ought to have been launched. We have not heard from either of the ministries and the parents are completely dissatisfied with the pace at which the investigation is going at the level of the police,” Nandall added.
Nandall told this newspaper that at a later stage, the possibility of suing the teachers for negligence could be explored. “When I say that suing the teachers’ I mean suing the state and that is not an option that I would be overruling at this time. But I’ll have to discuss that with the parents.” In relation to compensation for the parents, Nandall said that option could also be pursued with the parents’ permission.
Reports are that the lad fell into the river about 11:45h on Thursday, July 12, 2018 when he went to wash his feet in the company of another student. The river runs along the front of his school.
The boy and an eight-year-old female student were playing at the health post building, which is also housed in the school’s compound. The girl reported that about 11:40h she and the now-deceased student were playing when he told her that he was going to wash his feet. She told investigators that shortly afterwards she saw his upraised two hands in the water and she began to scream.
Guyana Times was told that upon hearing the child’s screams, teachers rushed out and ran to the landing, but the child was not seen. Two men from the area then jumped overboard in search of the boy, but their efforts proved futile. The Police were called, and an investigation has been launched. Meanwhile, another search party has been combing the area for the child’s body.
Efforts to contact officials from both ministries for a comment has proved futile.