Public Health Ministry still awaiting word about inquest into nurse’s death

-Commissioner of Police still to respond – Minister Lawrence

Over three weeks have passed since the death of 26-year-old Schenise Apple, whose lifeless body was discovered at a nurses’ hostel in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), and to date, calls for an inquest into the matter have gone unanswered.
Although some two weeks ago Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence made the call for such an investigation into the young nurse’s death after meeting her parents, there has been no word as to when the inquest will commence.
Minister Lawrence, during a telephone interview with Guyana Times on Saturday, stated that she officially dispatched a letter to the Police Commissioner, Leslie James, in relation to the death of the nurse but she has not received any information from the police about the matter.
“I wrote the Commissioner of Police for an inquest. I have not had an answer from him,” she told this publication. Attempts by this newspaper on Saturday to get a comment from the Police Commissioner proved futile.
Apple’s body was found on July 2 after she did not report for duty at the Mahdia Hospital.
Initially, the Public Health Ministry, along with the Guyana Police Force (GPF), treated the investigation as a suspected suicide. However, following a meeting with the grieving family members earlier this month, the Minister at that time had said that an inquest was necessary.
“I it is only in that way we will be able to have a deeper investigation into what really happened, so I am asking for an inquest… I am happy that I’m taking this step… All the answers to questions must come out in that inquest,” Minister Lawrence was quoted by the Department of Public Information as saying.
Meanwhile, a usually reliable source from Mahdia, Region Eight, previously told this publication that there are reports in the mining town that the nurse was murdered and the suicide was staged.
“Everyone saying that the young lady was murdered. They are saying that from how the body was discovered, it was as if it was placed there and who would hang themselves with a towel? It just doesn’t add up,” the source opined.
Apple of Lot 323 Block 22, Linden, Region 10, was last seen after completing the night shift.
This publication understands that she retreated to the nurses’ hostel. Speaking with Guyana Times, another nurse said that no one saw Apple during the day but that was nothing strange.
“It is normal when you finish the night shift to sleep most of the day. So after no one saw her, we didn’t take it for anything,” a nurse told this publication.
However, at about 18:15h, another colleague inquired about Apple and it was then that they visited the hostel and found her body. It is suspected that the woman committed suicide since she was allegedly found hanging in her room. The police were notified and the woman’s body was removed. The police have since launched an investigation.