A Stewartville teenager has been declared brain-dead after being struck down by an Education Ministry official’s vehicle a week ago on the West Coast Demerara Public Road.
Relatives also blasted the Ministry’s official on the assistance being offered and called on that ministry to assist in affording the teenager, whose condition they say is regressing rapidly, the opportunity of being treated by a brain specialist.
Jameel Mounter, 13, of Lot 76, Third Street, Stewartville Housing Scheme, was struck down at approximately 8pm on September 28, on the public road by a vehicle which was being driven by an official of the Education Ministry. He is currently a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital’s (GPH) Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
According to Jameel’s cousin Dania, the lad and two of his cousins were heading to an event in a nearby village when he was hit from behind by the official’s vehicle. He was then rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was treated and later referred to the GPH.
Melwyn Mounter, Jameel’s father, told Stabroek News that his son has consistently regressed since his admittance to the GPH. He said, last week doctors informed him that the teenager was brain- dead. Now the concerned father said, relatives are awaiting a meeting with doctors on the options available for Jameel. That meeting is scheduled for today.
The family said that they were offered $20,000 per day for transportation, by the official whose vehicle struck down Jameel. However, visibly angry relatives said that they prefer the assistance be given in the form of overseas treatment by a brain specialist. Furthermore, Melwyn told this publication that he is disappointed at the failure of that official keeping his promise of visiting Jameel. “He {the official} only come two time and we never see he back,” the frustrated man added. “It seem like we are waiting in vain,” said another relative.
When contacted, Chief Education Officer Olato Sam said that the Permanent Secretary and the Minister of Education, are about to make decisions on the way forward. When asked what those decisions might be, Sam said he was not at liberty to say. He further mentioned that serious attention is being given to Jameel’s condition, which the Ministry is concerned about.
‘D’ Division Comman-der, Senior Superintendent Ian Amsterdam when contacted said that a medical certificate has to be issued by doctors before a charge can be instituted. The official was placed on station bail and required to report to the police pending the outcome of the matter.
