Following an article published in this newspaper yesterday about the children of Plegt Anker, East Bank Berbice who survived being poisoned six years ago, the Oldendorff Bauxite Company reached out to them.
The children and their grandmother who took them in her care ever since, were presented with two bicycles as well as a quantity of items including clothing, footwear, bed sheets, bath towels and stuffed toys.
The children’s father Khemraj Mohan murdered their mother, Sabrina Fredricks and after feeding them Ovaltine laced with poison, took his own life.
Kumjeshwar ‘Mike’ Mohan, 18, who was 12 years old at the time and his siblings; Mohanie, Savita, and Amit who are now 16, 11 and ten years old have vague recollections of what transpired on that fateful night.
Another sibling, Sharda, was spending the night at an aunt’s house at the time of the incident and was spared the nightmare. They are still in the care of their paternal grandmother, Rajmonie Tomby, 68.
The incident followed quarrels Mohan had with his wife over the long periods she was away from home, leaving him to take care of the children while tending to his farm.
Antje El Dib, wife of Captain Zakaria El Dib, sorted and handed over the items to the woman and the children on behalf of the company and said she was touched after learning about their plight.
The family was on their way back from Little Abary after going there to spend the weekend to attend a religious function when they were asked to stop in at the Oldendorff compound.
They were all beaming with joy after receiving the items and Amit was especially happy to have gotten the bicycle to ride to school. His sisters would be sharing the other bike.
Rajmonie expressed gratitude to the El Dibs and the Oldendorff Company for their kind gesture and she promised that they would take good care of everything.
She said before this newspaper contacted her to arrange an interview she was crying because no one was remembering her to help with the children.
When the article was published in this newspaper several months after the incident she said she received a lot of help. A long time after that the children had gotten a few pieces of clothing which they have started to outgrow.
According to her, she was “praying to God fuh get some help and look, God answer me prayers.”
Antje told Stabroek News that the company would also be willing to provide a job to Kumjeshwar so he can take care of his grandmother and siblings.
Antje who is from Holland said she recently went on a trip to her country where she gathered a quantity of clothing, footwear, bicycles, walking aids, beds and other items which were shipped in a container to give out to needy persons.
Meanwhile, several persons who read the article on this newspaper’s website yesterday have also indicated that they were willing to assist the family.
Rajmonie who took the children in her care just after they were discharged from hospital had vowed since then never to separate them even if she could only afford to provide them with just “salt and rice”.
In tears she told this newspaper, “Me mind them from small and me tek oath that me would look after them how long me live.”
