Paign against alcohol abuse
Nine liquor-related deaths recorded in September
carriageway of the road when Punch reportedly lost control and collided with a utility pole. As a result of the impact, they were all flung onto the roadway.
On Thursday, September 27th,
30, of Lot 1 Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice, died after his motorbike slammed into a concrete fence along the Number 6 Village, West Coast Berbice.
According to information gathered, the man, in the company of others, was drinking at a playfield in his home village before he left to go purchase ice from a nearby village. It was while returning around 3 pm, that he lost control of his motorcycle.
The preceding alcoholfueled accident occurred on September 12th, when Conrad Alleyne, 64, of 33 Hague, West Coast Demerara (WCD), was killed after a senior police officer who was driving under the influence of alcohol struck the bicycle he was riding.
That accident occurred at around 7.20 pm along the Boerasirie Bridge, WCD Public Road.
In a statement, the police explained that the vehicle involved in the accident, PTT 992, was at the time being driven by a Deputy Superintendent of Police, who is stationed in ‘D’ Division (West Demerara). While the police did not reveal the identity of the senior officer, sources identified him as Patrick Todd, who is the Officer-in-Charge of the No.2 Sub-Division.
During the initial stages of the investigation, Todd was administered a breathalyser test and his breath alcohol content was found to be above the legal limit.
Meanwhile, Satesh Sookdeo, 21, was allegedly stabbed in the chest with a broken louvre pane by his father on September 8th, after he intervened in an altercation between his parents. He died in his mother’s arms.
Residents in the area previously told this publication that Mohan Sookdeo and his wife would usually have arguments in which Satesh would intervene. Reports indicated that this would occur whenever the elder Sookdeo would consume alcohol. The elder Sookdeo was charged with murder on September 12th.
The body of Malcolm Corlette, 37, was discovered face down with his arms twisted in the backlands of Number 54 Village, Corentyne by residents on September 6th. He was described as an alcoholic who, when intoxicated, was unable to control himself. There were no marks of violence on his body when he was found. It is suspected that after consuming alcohol he ventured into the backlands, where he collapsed and died. A post mortem revealed that he died from hypovolemic shock, which is linked to excessive alcohol consumption. On September 3rd, Kevon Tacourdeen, 32, was struck down and killed on Fairfield Public Road, Essequibo Coast. It is alleged that Tacourdeen, who was riding a motorcycle at the time, was hit by the driver of a pick-up, who was intoxicated and allegedly speeding at the time.
Akemo Anthony, 23, died on September 1st after an allegedly intoxicated policeman driving a force vehicle collided with him. The accident occurred around 11.40 pm on Mandela Avenue in the vicinity of Back Circle, East Ruimveldt.
The police had disclosed in a statement that the police constable failed the breathalyser test after the accident. The police added that the constable was proceeding east along the northern carriageway on Mandela Avenue while Anthony was proceeding in the opposite direction on motorcycle CJ511. According to the report, the Anthony turned north in an attempt to cross into Back Circle Street and the rank collided with him. The lawman has since been charged with both drunk driving and causing death by dangerous driving.