DEOMATTIE Persaud, mother of the 18-year-old young man who was reportedly raped repeatedly by ten men, including a close friend, confirmed yesterday that her son is now a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital in Berbice.Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle yesterday, Ms. Persaud, who now sounds a bit up-beat in contrast to three weeks ago, said that her son was taken to that medical facility to receive shock treatment for the trauma he has suffered after the alleged ordeal.

“He coming around very slowly; hetalking one-and-two things. He is eating without the tube; he is drinking; sitting up; and calling for mommy, and is now able to have motions,” she told this newspaper.
The woman said that she and the teen’s father, accompanied by two nurses from the Georgetown Public Hospital, travelled to the New Amsterdam Hospital last Friday.
They spent the first few nights on the patients’ bench before someone from the Hospital’s canteen offered them boarding at her home after learning of their plight.
The woman said that her son received the first shock treatment on Monday, and is expected to receive another one today, and one on Friday. Asked about the welfare of the other children she left at home, the woman said that they are big enough to take care of themselves.
Meanwhile, the woman said that she has received no word from the police recently concerning the investigation. However, other sections of the media reported that the commander of the division in which the incident occurred had said that they are awaiting the recovery of the young man to take a statement from him on the matter.
In addition, the woman and her family are also receiving assistance from someone in Berbice who is expected to secure an attorney who will provide legal services to them, pro-bono, in the matter.
The doctors at the New Amsterdam Hospital are said to be providing the young man with much-needed care and attention. According to his mother, they assured her that they will be working to ensure that they can return to their home very soon, given the distance they have travelled to seek medical attention.
Efforts last evening to contact senior officials from the Health Ministry to find out why the treatment could not have been done at the Georgetown Public Hospital proved futile.
Earlier this year, the 18-year-old told his mother that he was raped by his friend and other men following an Old Year’s Night party. The main suspect in the matter has since denied claims of being sexually involved with the young man.
However, this newspaper has been told that the house in which the teen is claiming that the incident took place really exists, according to persons in the Vreed-en-Hoop area. The police are continuing their investigations into the matter.

(By Leroy Smith)