TWO boys, who were almost killed by a motor vehicle driver but survived with injuries, were among those staging a peaceful protest in front of Blairmont Magistrate’s Court, West Bank Berbice, yesterday morning. Telling of their survival from dangerous driving, eight-year-old Vayjai Ramnauth recalled, to the Guyana Chronicle, how his sister, Jasmattie, on June 20 last, had  held his hand while on their way from Cotton Tree Primary School, West Coast Berbice, after being told their end of term examinations were rescheduled for the afternoon.
His sister, aged nine years, was killed instantly when a speeding motor car hit them, pinning her under its wheels, after crashing into a concrete fence on the West Coast Berbice Public Road, a short distance from their home.
Vayjai remains with the memory of the horrific day, even though he is unable to move about unaided, with his left leg in a cast.
Yesterday, he carried a placard with the words ‘Children are angels sent by God’.
Fellow villager, Sateshwar Raggunanand, 12, had to be assisted, as he, too, has difficulty walking. Also a pre-teen, he suffered injuries in another accident for which the same driver is charged with causing the death of Jasmattie Ramnauth by dangerous driving.
Sateshwar’s mother, Kalawattie Raggunanand told this newspaper that, following that accident on Cotton Tree Public Road on February 19, 2009, the driver had given the family $300,000 which was expended on medical care.
Meanwhile, the protest which attracted concerned citizens, was organised by Dhanwattie Ramnauth, who lost her daughter, Jasmattie and continues to see her son Vayjai suffer.
“We want justice. Drivers must be more careful, as children are our future. The laws need to be reinforced. Drivers must not drink and drive in spite of their position,” she maintained.
The protesters carried placards on which were written ‘Can you trust a hit and run driver?’ ‘Justice should be given to the victims and their family’, ‘Children should trust drivers with their lives, not scared with their life’, ‘Drunken drivers should be punished’, ‘All we are asking for is justice for our children’, ‘Fake licence kills’ and  ‘Our  children lives are not for sale.’
The demonstrators were all transported on an animal drawn car.
Meanwhile, the case in which the driver, Mahendra Ramanan called ‘Banga’, 36, is charged with causing the death of the fourth grader, was postponed as the defendant’s lawyer is out of the jurisdiction.
The carpenter contractor faces two additional summary charges, to which he pleaded not guilty, alleging that he failed to render assistance after being involved in an accident whilst behind the wheel of PMM 8812 and to report it.