Meenawattie Harrilall, called ‘Auntie Dhora’, an 81-year-old pensioner of New Area in Chesney Village, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), is now dead, having been struck by a motorcycle moments after she had just finished praying.
The accident occurred on Wednesday at about 8:30h, and video footage thereof shows Harrilall crossing the road and a motorcycle passing in front of her. Moments later, a second motorcycle that comes into view crashes into her, knocking her to the ground.
Meenawattie Harrilall
The police have said that motorcycle CG 979 was being ridden by a 22-year-old cane harvester of Number One Village Corentyne, and an unknown pillion rider was seated thereon.
Family members say Harrilall had just finished praying using fresh flowers, and was on her way to a canal only a few metres away, wherein she was going to dispose of the flowers, when the incident occurred.
Her son, cane harvester Rooplall Harrilall, has said he was at Rose Hall Town when he got the news; and when he arrived on scene, his mother was already in the ambulance.
“Me come deh! Me see mi mudda and the motorbike boy! The motorbike boy help she and they go to Port Mourant [Hospital]. De boy not wilfully knock she down,” he said.
Rooplall said he knows the motorcyclist, as they are both cane harvesters attached to the Albion Estate.
Another of Auntie Dhora’s children, Teshwalall Sewchand, explaining that his mother passed away sometime after being hit, detailed, “When me come to the house, they tell me that she gone to New Amsterdam Hospital… About half an hour we spend with she deh, and then the doctor said he taking she to do a surgery. About twenty minutes after, the doctor come back and say she is no more; she passed away.”
His brother Rooplall, noting that he knows the motorcyclist from his workplace, has said the young man lives with, and supports, a grandmother.
“He is a good boy. He wouldn’t knock her wilfully, and we don’t want no problem. She never used to see too properly,” Rooplall said.
Nevertheless, his brother Teshwalall has said some motorcyclists ride with too much speed within the village.
“Village people not suppose to drive so speed inside hay! You have a lot of old people and small pickney walking in the streets in here! Morning time, dem boys coming out too late to go a wuk, an dem ah try fo beat the traffic, an dem don’t care who deh pon the road; that is how dey causing all this accident! Every morning my mummy does carry flower to throw in the trench. Halfway on the road to throw the flower, the motorbike come and hit she,” Teshwalall added.
The motorcyclist was subsequently arrested and remains in custody.
