The parents of the 12-year-old boy of Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice, who attempted to hang himself, have been taken into custody.
The couple abandoned the boy and his siblings. He and three of his six siblings, ages 10, 13 and 14, have been taken into the care of the Probation & Social Services Department. Two older sisters, 18 and 20, as well as two older boys are living and working with residents in the area.
Stabroek News learnt that about six yearsago the boy’s mother deserted him and his five siblings. The other children were left in the care of their father, who worked occasionally at sea.
The boy is reported to have made the suicide attempt on Wednesday, after he witnessed two boys taking advantage of a female relative. He was found by an older sister and he was taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital, where he was treated and sent away. The police were also informed and visited the area to take statements after hearing the circumstances that had led to the attempted suicide.
After the boy’s plight was highlighted, a number of persons indicated that they would like to help him.
Their father left the children almost two months ago and told neighbours that he was living with another woman. But yesterday he told this newspaper that he was in fact “doing fishing work” with relatives at Mahaicony. While he admitted that he was not sending the children to school, he denied that he was taken into custody over it.
A neighbour provided food and a place for the children to sleep and the man said he had returned to the area and gave her money to take care of them.
