An Indian national who was employed as a nurse with the Balwant Singh Hospital here was fatally stabbed to his neck on Wednesday night as he and his friends were watching the Diwali Motorcade.
Dead is 31-year-old James Peter who came to Guyana over five years ago to work as a registered nurse at the Woodlands Hospital. He later sought employment with the Balwant Singh Hospital.
Police said they are currently investigating the death and the circumstances surrounding it are not yet clear. There have not been any arrests in the case.
Commander of the police’s ‘D’ Division Clifton Hicken told Stabroek News that how
the man met his demise is still unclear.
He said investigations have so far revealed that Peter was out with friends at the seawall and moved away to take a cell phone call. He returned shortly after with the wound in his neck and informed his friends that he had been stabbed. He was rushed to the Balwant Singh Hospital where he was employed but died shortly after.
At the hospital yesterday staff reminisced on Peter’s pleasant disposition and lamented at the brutal way in which he died.
A friend of the young man informed that he had no next of kin in Guyana as a brother who had also worked here returned to India sometime last year. The friend and co-worker said Peter was pleasant, kind and always had a joke to give.
Peter was also in a relationship with a local and there was talk that the duo would be married soon. His girlfriend was in the group of people who went to the Kitty seawall to watch the motorcade on Wednesday evening.
It is unclear if Peter’s body will be sent back to India. Another national explained that in their contracts, provision is made for life insurance, which covers transport back to their original destination. But he said he was not sure if Peter had negotiated the same package.
He said if not it might be left up to the Indian High Commission here to make arrangements so that the man’s family in India could receive his body.
Contacted, Director of the Balwant Singh Hospital Dr Madhu Singh said she did not want to comment on the young man’s life during his tenure with the hospital.
An autopsy will be performed on the body after it has been identified by a family member or authorized person.
