Surprised that people still have superstitious beliefs

I was encouraged to file this complaint by Mohabir Anil Nandalall, Attorney-at-Law and Member of Parliament. I am a born Guyanese back home after 36 years and I am surprised to see Guyana is left in the dark ages with many or most of its citizens still very superstitious with the belief in bacoo, jumbie and other things of that nature.

I witnessed the following incident. What in the beginning I thought to be an altercation turned out in my opinion to be someone in need of medical attention but instead was held, beaten, and choked in the mud on the ground at Splashmin’s Jamzone on Sunday 30 last.

After about 30 minutes I reported the incident to the front office where I found a lone female. I told her there was a sick person out back being choked, punched, kicked, brutalised and held on the ground in mud and water by about eight other men. They stated that he was possessed by jumbies, baccoos etc. And seeing the ambulance there from Davis Memorial Hospital, I personally thought they should be notified of this sick person. I thereafter returned to the rear where I observed two EMTs approached the crowd when a female told them not to go because the sick person was possessed by ghosts and jumbies, etc. To my astonishment these so-called professionals turned and left just like several members of the Police Department (about six).

I was so annoyed and in awe, I immediately approached a female police and demanded she do something for this poor sick person. Her statement to me was and I quote, “In Guyana a person family has the right to refuse medical attention”. I then asked her where was the proof that these were indeed family members, seeing they were swimming and only had trunks on. With that she walked away with me behind her to a room on the ground floor marked medical post. This is the same room the hospital EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians) came out and returned. In there were about eight female police members. After voicing my concerns and stating the lack of professional attention from both the police and EMTs, I was told to leave by a thin, light complexion, female officer wearing glasses.

Thirty minutes later, the female from the front desk came with two big guys in plain clothes who promptly told them to leave. At that point the eight or so persons lifted the man by his hands and legs taking him to the parking lot or nearby bush. This man was brutally abused for about one and a half hours.

At 3:15 to 3:30 pm I reported the incident to a Mr. Tyndall whom I’m told is a prosecutor. The person in charge, Mr. Ramnarine could not be found anywhere.

I believe this atrocity must be brought to the attention of public officials and members of the public.
P. RAWLINS
Concerned Guyanese

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