Dear Editor,
Guyanese-American Pitamber (Prem) Lekhram, formerly of Tain Settlement, died at Jamaica Hospital last Sunday apparently of, what family members feel, was neglect and poor medical services. He was only 63. Hundreds turned out for two nights of wake at the Leo Kearns Funeral Home in the heart of Richmond Hill; it was standing room only during the viewing on Thursday night. Prem’s body was due to be cremated yesterday morning, according to Hindu rites.
There are many Guyanese patients at Jamaica Hospital, the nearest medical facility to the greater Richmond Hill, Jamaica and Queens Village communities where some 200,000 Guyanese Americans are settled. People regularly complain about poor medical services at the hospital. That facility needs to upgrade its medical care for there have been far too many complaints not only from Guyanese but other communities as well. Many mourners believe that Prem died because of carelessness at Jamaica hospital by medical workers. Community leaders in Queens should take their grouse to the hospital’s management and to the Mayor for improved services at this and other health care facilities. Without some kind of political activism and discourse with management there will not be improved services.
Prem, as he was popularly called in the community, was admitted to Jamaica Hospital for a minor, routine medical problem but his condition worsened in the hospital because of what many feel was a slow response from medical personnel and neglect. My wife and I visited him at the hospital about a month ago as his condition was worsening; he could not speak after communicating with family members and visitors just a day before. He was breathing on a ventilator and being fed with tubes after he walked into the hospital as a normal fit person. Family members told me that Prem walked into the hospital complaining about feeling unwell. He had high blood pressure. He was kept overnight for observation and placed on a bed. The next day, family members found him slouching over and unattended. The attending doctors and medical personnel accentuated his problem by inserting a tube in his mouth, putting it in a wrong tract. His condition worsened quickly; apparently, the damage was irreversible as doctors had given up on his recovery. He succumbed to his ailment on Sunday afternoon. Prayers for his soul, a practice in Hindu customs, have been held nightly at his home.
Prem was among the early Guyanese migrants, the Berbician pioneers, to America who laid the foundation for others to settle in New York; he came as a student in 1969. Later in his life, Prem became very active in Hindu religious affairs holding executive positions at the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha in Queens and participating in various community events. He was a tremendous asset to the Shiva Temple, a hard worker, helping to organize religious and other cultural
functions (including celebration of Diwali and Phagwah, singing chowtaals) and preparing meals for worshippers when he held leadership positions. The temple showered accolades on him and special services are being planned in his honour after the funeral rites that last two weeks.
The executives and members of the Shiva mandir, mostly Trinis, as well as Guyanese community leaders, showed up in their numbers to pay tribute to this Guyanese stalwart. Many prominent bhajan singers, including Seeta Panday, Pooran, Errol Balkissoon and others turned out at the wake to honour him with their spiritual renditions. Prem served the Hindu Trini and Guyanese community well and he would always be remembered. He would be sorely missed for his charming style, encouragement, and positive attitude, and the various forms of assistance he rendered at mandir.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
