The family of 26-year-old Prakash Persaud who was seriously injured in an accident with a Berbice businesswoman is alleging that police warned them to stop posting about his condition and the circumstances surrounding the road accident that left him hospitalised, threatening that action could be taken against them if they continued.
According to a relative, Persaud’s mother was told by police that the family should stop making posts and that if they continued, action could be taken after Persaud recovered.
“The police told his mother and the family that they should stop posting and if they don’t, after the boy feel good, they will take further actions against the family,” the relative alleged in a further update provided yesterday.
The family is now questioning what they describe as the handling of the investigation, while maintaining that they have had no direct contact with the driver involved in the accident, Samantha Reid.
The relatives said Reid has still not reached out to them directly, despite the seriousness of Persaud’s injuries.
According to the family, Reid has since hired a lawyer who questioned the family about what agreement could be reached between the parties. They reportedly questioned the lawyer about the situation, which his relatives described as “real messed up”.
“This thing just real messed up. Today is Tuesday and she still has not reached out to us,” the relative said, adding that the family was informed that there were persons at the hospital watching over Persaud and that Reid could not contact them.
The allegations have emerged as Persaud’s condition remains serious, although his family says there has been a slight improvement.
A relative said Persaud is now able to drink liquids but is still unable to eat solid food and continues to struggle to breathe.
“He could drink now, but no solids,” the relative said.
Persaud remains on oxygen, while medical tubes and monitoring equipment are still connected. His left leg has been placed in plaster, according to the family.
The family also said that an X-ray conducted on Monday showed injuries involving Persaud’s left foot.
While welcoming what they described as a small improvement, relatives remain deeply concerned about his overall condition.
“He still struggles to breathe,” the family member said.
The latest update follows Friday’s accident at Fairfield, Mahaica, Region Five, which left Persaud critically injured after he was struck while travelling on an electric scooter.
Persaud, a resident of Providence, East Bank Demerara, was reportedly heading to a shop to purchase a bottle of water when the accident occurred.
Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh has since said he will personally look into the investigation, citing apparent “inconsistencies” surrounding the handling of the matter.
Singh confirmed that the driver involved was Reid, President of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chief Executive Officer of Sawa Investment Inc.
According to police information previously provided, Reid was driving a black, fully tinted 4×4 pickup bearing registration number PAL 7721 when it reportedly collided with Persaud.
Singh said Reid was placed on $100,000 cash bail pending further investigations and confirmed that a breathalyser test was conducted, with the result reportedly below the prescribed alcohol limit.
“I am looking into this matter myself because there seemingly has some inconsistencies around it and there will be no inconsistencies when I am the Traffic Chief,” Singh previously told Kiskadee Watch.
However the family stated that he has not since reached out to the family since their last interaction.
Reid, in a statement issued on Sunday, said she was travelling towards Georgetown when the rider swerved into the path of her vehicle, resulting in the collision.
She denied consuming alcohol and said the breathalyser test confirmed that she had not been drinking. Reid also said the injured man was alive and in a stable condition and expressed hope for his full and speedy recovery.
Persaud’s family, however, has continued to dispute the description of his condition, saying he has undergone emergency surgery for serious injuries, remains dependent on oxygen and continues to require close medical attention.
They have also raised concerns about the conduct of the investigation at the Mahaicony Police Station, alleging that the station’s telephone line does not work and questioning why officers are frequently dressed in plain clothes “when you go there you can’t know who is who or what rank they are”
The family is maintaining its call for a thorough and transparent investigation as Persaud remains hospitalised and continues his recovery.
They say that while they are grateful for the slight improvement in his condition, they will continue demanding answers and justice over the circumstances that led to his injuries.
Discussion