By Indrawattie Natram

…children of slain domestic worker receive outpouring of support from the public

FOR Farida Khayum’s children, this past Mother’s Day was a very memorable day for them,

but little did they know that that would be the last Mother’s Day they would spend with their mother; the mother of six was brutally murdered on May 16 at their Anna Regina Home. She was stabbed 12 times by her husband with whom she had 10-year relationship.

Her son, still recalling the horrific ordeal, related that their mother will forever be their heroine. “My mother was a super-woman. She provided for us. We will remember her in good and bad times. I am still regretting not intervening in that fight she and my stepfather had,” Joshwa Mahadeo said.

During an interview with her sons, they are still coming to grips with their mother’s death– something that they are trying to cope with. They are still living with regrets and sadness daily over the passing of their beloved mother.

“They usually does quarrel, so I thought it was just another quarrel. I was laying in my bed and I thought they would just quarrel and it would have done, but I didn’t know that I would forever lose my mother from that one last fight she and my stepfather had,” the 15-year-old boy said.

Mahadeo was very optimistic that if he had intervened, maybe he would have saved his mother’s life. Remembering his mother, he said she used to work with Hakh Rice Mill at Golden Fleece to provide for them.

“Education was important for her, she used to make sure she send us to school and whatever little we had we used to make much. My mother and my real father separated 10 years now,” Mahadeo said.

Mahadeo related that his stepfather was a habitual drinker and would usually drink and smoke daily. He said that his mother was the main breadwinner and most times his stepfather would be in the “back- dams.”

“My stepfather does go in the ‘backdam’ to work; he usually does cut wood, but when he comes out I am not sure if he used to give my mother money; what I know he does buy ice cream for us,” another one of the dead woman’s sons said. The children said they would forever miss their mother for her advice and support.

Support for the children
Commander of the police ‘G’ Division, Khalid Pareshram, along with his team consisting of Community Relations Officer Syndilin Issacs, Sergeant Hanover and Pastor Mohammed Ally from the Church of Christ recently visited the family’s home.

Commander Pareshram offered sympathy on behalf of the Guyana Police Force. He encouraged the family to have faith and to trust in God.

He also told the family that the Zara Group which is an overseas patron of the Guyana Police Force has indicated an interest in helping the children. As such, the names of the children were taken down and the necessary information will be sent to the group members in the United States of America.
Mentoring the family was Pastor Mohamed Ally from the Church of Christ. He told the family that he understands the pain that they are going through and offered a prayer. He also told the family that there is a good that can come out of every bad situation.

He also said that he hopes that all men from the Pomeroon-Supenaam region can learn a lesson from Khayum’s death.

Mother of the deceased Golden Harduwar had said her daughter was supporting her. The mother described her daughter as a very loving person who had her family at heart. The woman, who recently suffered a stroke, had moved in to live with her. During that time, she said her daughter showed her only love. The mother said that the family has received overwhelming support from the Essequibo population and showered praises to everyone who reached out.

Meanwhile, the main suspect Devanand Narine has since been charged with the murder of Farida Khayum, who was buried last Saturday.