The mother of 26-year-old Prakash Persaud says her son has been discharged from hospital but remains unable to care for himself and continues to require oxygen following the August 21 road accident at Fairfield, Mahaica.
June Cush told Kiskadee Watch on Thursday that while Persaud is now able to speak, he does so only briefly because he becomes short of breath.
“He cannot do nothing for himself,” Cush said.
She said Persaud is also able to drink, but cannot yet eat solid food and has to have his meals blended.
“He is speaking, but only for short of breath,” she said.
Cush said her son remains dependent on others for his daily needs despite being discharged from hospital.
The latest update comes after Persaud spent weeks receiving treatment following the collision, which left him with serious injuries and initially required him to be placed on oxygen and undergo emergency medical treatment.
Cush also said Persaud has been able to recount to the family what happened on the day of the accident and has given an account to police.
“He told us. He even told the police everything that happened,” she said.
According to Cush, Persaud told the family that the road was already clear when he proceeded and that he knew where he was coming from and where he was going.
That account differs from the version previously provided by driver Samantha Reid, who said following the accident that Persaud, who was riding an electric cycle, swerved into the path of her vehicle.
Cush said the family remains concerned that Reid has not personally reached out to them following the accident.
She said Reid instead sent a man to speak with her about possibly taking Persaud to a private doctor.
According to Cush, she questioned how such a decision could be made without the family’s knowledge.
She said she asked which hospital Persaud would be taken to but received no response.
Cush described the situation as disrespectful, particularly given her son’s condition.
She also remains concerned about how the accident scene was handled, saying the family had previously been prevented from accessing the area and that relatives were chased away.
Cush said she has never personally seen the vehicle involved in the collision and questioned what happened to it after the accident.
She further said she was informed that work had been carried out at the accident scene, including repairs to a fence.
While Cush remains critical of the information provided by ranks at the Mahaicony Police Station, she singled out Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh for praise.
“The Traffic Chief, he did a lot. I thank him so much,” Cush said.
According to Cush, Singh contacted her after learning about the accident and subsequently assisted the family in navigating their concerns.
“He did a lot. I thank him so much,” she reiterated.
Cush said Singh’s intervention stood out from her interactions with ranks at the police station.
She said she had visited the station several times seeking information about the investigation but was not provided with updates.
“They told me they not allowed to call me or tell me anything,” she said, referring to what she said she was told by a rank at the station.
Cush clarified that her concerns about the lack of information did not relate to Singh, whom she said had reached out to her and provided assistance.
Cush said she remains unaware of the current status of the investigation and was not informed about any court proceedings involving Reid. She said she had heard that Reid was placed on $100,000 bail.
The concerns come days after Singh told Kiskadee Watch that he had personally been following the matter and had been in contact with several members of Persaud’s family, including Cush.
Singh said Cush and several of her children had met with him at Traffic Headquarters in the presence of the Regional Traffic Officer for Region Five and other traffic officers.
He also said he had been communicating with one of Persaud’s brothers by telephone, providing updates on the investigation and checking on Persaud’s condition.
Singh further acknowledged that there had been concerns about the conduct of some police officers during the initial investigation, including allegations that relatives were chased away from the accident scene and prevented from recording.
He said those concerns were addressed with the family and officers involved and that he instructed the Regional Traffic Officer to ensure clearer and more regular communication with Persaud’s relatives.
The accident occurred on August 21 at Fairfield, Mahaica, and involved Persaud, who was riding an electric scooter, and a black, fully tinted 4×4 pickup bearing registration number PAL 7721, driven by Reid.
Reid is President of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chief Executive Officer of Sawa Investment Inc.
Traffic Chief Singh previously confirmed that Reid was placed on $100,000 cash bail pending further investigations and that a breathalyser test was conducted, with the result reportedly below the prescribed alcohol limit.
Reid subsequently issued a statement denying that she had consumed alcohol and said the breathalyser test confirmed that she had not been drinking. She also said Persaud swerved into the path of her vehicle. She expressed concern for his wellbeing.
Singh, meanwhile, said he would personally examine the investigation after identifying what he described as apparent “inconsistencies” surrounding the handling of the matter.
Persaud’s condition had previously been described by his family as critical, with relatives saying he required oxygen, was unable to speak or move normally and had suffered serious injuries.
His mother’s latest update indicates some improvement, as he can now speak and drink, but he remains unable to care for himself and continues to struggle with his breathing.
For Cush and the rest of Persaud’s family, however, questions remain about the circumstances of the accident, the handling of the investigation and the lack of information they say they received from the police station.
The family continues to call for accountability and a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Persaud’s injuries.
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