THE brutal murder of Neesa Gopaul shocked the whole populace of Guyana and those overseas who are connected to this beautiful land of ours. Fingers are still pointing at employees of Ministries of Education and Human Services and Queens College for failing to help this child. In the height of this, just a few days now a young girl named Nandanie Sudama, a thirteen year Form Three student of Skeldon Line Path Secondary School on the Corentyne took her life because teachers and Ministries of Education and Human Services did not help her. She died in much agony at Skeldon Hospital three days ago after ingesting the deadly grammazone. This story will not make news and those who neglect this child will continue to distance themselves from students who need help.
The school in particular ignored Nandanie Sudama’s cries for help. From what I gathered this child used to get away from home but the Welfare Officers did not try to help her. Regrettably, this confused child ingested grammazone rebelling because her family was forcing her to marry a tapir driver. Not because this girl used to get away they should leave her to take her own life. I want to say like others said in the Neesa Gopaul’s case, that the Ministry of Education failed her. Students knew what was going on in her life. Many teachers also knew what was going on but who cares. The old saying is, ‘teachers are paid to teach and not to counsel’; but couldn’t they see the signs of abuse and at least try to help? We all know teachers are at school to teach and that is her home business but couldn’t someone try to help this child. Not because it is her parents who are marrying her out and that has nothing to do with the school. I understand that some teachers said that was ‘good fuh she, she know about she man’ when they heard of her demise.
The Ministry of Education failed this child. They should take the blame again. There is no need for more senseless deaths. Guyana is still overwhelmed with how Neesa Gopaul met her demise. Now Nandanie Sudama. R.I.P. little angels. My heart is breaking as I write this letter. This is so very very heart-wrenching when young people have to die so horribly.
As I write now, I heard that another young child, this time from Skeldon High School is battling for her life at Skeldon Hospital. She too ingested poison.