— survives chopping in West Berbice protest

A FATHER of two who has been rendered helpless after he was severely beaten and chopped during the West Coast Berbice protest is seeking help to get back on his feet again.

Mahendra Persaud, 29, a labourer of Crabwood Creek, East Berbice, Corentyne, related that he and his father were making their way home, after working a week in Parika, East Bank Essequibo, when they were attacked in the Mahaicony area.

Their vehicle was stopped and several protesters began pulling them out.

His father, Dewan Dwarka, 53, said he was stripped and chopped in the process. He and his son were also relieved of their pay, clothes and documents.

“They said take off my clothes and they start firing chop, so by time they fire more I run, I run for my life,” Dwarka told the Guyana Chronicle.

He recalled that his son was not so lucky to get away as he was caught up in the commotion.

“They beat him and chop him up. I begged them to leave him alone but it didn’t matter,” the father said. After running to safety, he stopped and turned back to help his son who was soaked in blood.

“I see he managed to free himself, so I shouted, shouted run buddy! Run! We were assisted and taken to the Mahaicony Hospital where we sleep the night. The next day, after we were treated at the hospital and after spending the night we were escorted to the bridge the next day,” Dwarka said.

Persaud was chopped to his neck, shoulder, head, back and also received injuries to the eye.

“Right now I can’t sleep, I keep having nightmares. While I’m getting some help from relatives, it hurt me that I can’t provide and I really need some help at this point. I got stitches to my neck and shoulder,” he told this publication.

Persaud also related that he felt he was going to die when he was surrounded by the angry protesters, recalling that one of his attackers said, “Let’s take him in the backdam”.

Persaud is a father of a three-year-old and a five-year-old.

Following the brutal killings of the Henry cousins, Isaiah and Joel, protests erupted across several West Coast Berbice communities, calling for justice for the young men.

Persons desirous of helping Persaud can contact his family on telephone number +592 630 6802.