Guyana was rocked to its core in 1994 by the kidnapping, brutal torture and murder of 8-year-old Vishnu Bhim, the only child of his parents, Heeralall and Chaimwattie, who resided then at Annandale on the East Coast of Demerara, but who are currently domiciled in the USA.
When the nation was apprised of the arrest of the perpetrator, Ravendra Deo, on December 1, 1994 on America Street as he was enjoying a spending spree with the one million dollars ($1M) he had demanded from the parents for the child’s safe return there was a collective sigh of relief.

The Bhims were given a semblance of closure when the murderer of their innocent little boy was given the death penalty by the courts. Even when this sentence was commuted to a life sentence there was still some solace for them that he would never again enjoy the life that he had deprived their baby of.

One can only imagine the shock and grief – the re-opened wounds of the Bhims to have been told that Deo was now a free man, having been granted a pardon by former President Donald Ramotar.

Deo was 19 years old when he committed the heinous act that robbed Vishnu Bhim of his life and the Bhims of their only child and future prospects of ever becoming grandparents.

Today he is 39 years old – a relatively young man, free to enjoy his life, marry and have children. Most likely his parents have other children. Even in jail his family would have been able to visit him, talk to him, take his favourite food for him; so even locked away from the public he still had a life.

On the other hand, Vishnu Bhim’s mother would never again experience the great joy a mother feels in preparing her child’s favourite food, she would never be able to hold a grandchild in her arms, and the only visits they could make with their child is in their memories; and those memories would be very bitter, because they would be overshadowed by the recollection of their beloved child lying battered and lifeless, all because of the greed and absolutely inhuman actions of the depraved Deo.

A release published in yesterday’s edition of this newspaper stated, inter alia: “The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha has expressed disappointment with the decision of former President Donald Ramotar to pardon Ravindra Deo who was convicted for murdering eight-year-old Vishnu Bhim.

The Sabha in a statement said in Guyana, violence against children is still prevalent and “too often we read in the media about unspeakable acts being committed against our innocent little ones.”

The Sabha believes that the pardoning and subsequent release of a child-killer sends the wrong signal to those who have committed or are inclined to commit such acts.
“Indeed, the Sabha is of the firm view that the most severe punishments should be meted out to those who inflict harm on children,” the statement said.

It also noted that the Sabha remains committed to working towards the eradication of violence against children and, at present, provides a safe haven for child victims through the Bal Nivas, its shelter for children at Ankerville, Berbice, Region 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne).
The Bal Nivas was opened on May 5, 2014. Since then, the Sabha has been collaborating with the Child Protection Agency to have children placed in the shelter, schooled and later, where appropriate, re-integrated into their families.
Only recently, the Guyana Coalition for Children in a release said it is saddened and appalled to learn of Ramotar’s pardoning of Ravendra Deo. “Ravindra Deo already had his death sentence commuted to life imprisonment. Today, he is free to live how he wishes. On the other hand, innocent eight-year-old Vishnu is dead; his parents and family will never see his potential realised, and our society has been robbed of his contribution.
“Too many adults in our society have contributed to the abuse of children and/or stood by silently while children are abused and violated, most often by someone they know and love. The Guyana Coalition for Children reiterates that all forms of child abuse can be prevented. The abuse of children must not be tolerated, and abusers of children must receive the full penalties the law attaches to this heinous crime,” the release said.
The Guyana Coalition for Children is calling on the new government to place children’s issues at the heart of developing Guyana and to address this injustice without any delay.
Several other organisations and individuals have also condemned the decision of the former president.”
Article 188 1 (A) of the Constitution vests a President with the power to grant any person concerned in or convicted of any offence under the law of Guyana a pardon either free or subject to lawful condition.

The former President must have taken many things into consideration when he made the fateful decision, not least being the consideration through the heart of a father that one life was already forfeit and Deo had served two decades in prison and that he was very youthful when he committed the unspeakable act that deprived Vishnu Bhim of his life and the Bhims of their only child.

But in pardoning Deo he had forgotten the suffering and murder of Vishnu, who did not deserve to die in the horrible way he did; and the grievous loss of his parents, who would never experience the fructification of their dreams for their beloved only child.

This one act of his, most likely under advisement, has ‘tainted’ a hitherto illustrious political career by Guyana’s former Head-of-State.

Most parents are appalled at this last-minute decision of his to set free a child murderer, and the condemnation of this act comes even from deep within PPP/C enclaves – the Dharmic Sabha being one organisation that has publicly denounced the presidential pardon of Ravendra Deo – child murderer.