For five girls of Berbice, Christmas isn’t about the presents or traditions, to them it’s about family, more so their mother. Their only wish this year is to have their mother sober, settled and stable with them under the same roof.
Their mother’s love is all the girls want along with the basic necessities. Three of the girls currently reside at the Alpha Home, another with their aunt, and the eldest by herself. However, the girls have seven older siblings, who have their own families and fend for themselves, and a younger baby brother, who is currently with their mother.
For a family of 13, one would have thought Christmas was the holiday to look forward to, but it is the absolute opposite for these girls; Christmas day will be no different from any other day of the year for them, as they might not see their mother.
Their mother, Venus Lalloo, also known as ‘Anita’, of Edinburgh Village, East Bank Berbice, was recently released from prison. At the beginning of December, following a trial at the New Amsterdam Magistrate Court, Lalloo was found guilty of three counts of child neglect.
The court fined Lalloo $100,000 on each charge, a total of $300,000. Initially, Lalloo was unable to raise the total sum, and opted to serve the alternative sentence, which is six months imprisonment. However, three days after she commenced serving her sentence, her fine was paid in full by a government official.
Her relatives told Stabroek News, that Lalloo should have considered that person to be her angel.
Relatives said she was released from prison and was provided with a supply of groceries. However, Lalloo never visited any of her children, and didn’t offer them anything. They further stated that the person who paid her fine did so with the best of intentions, and probably thought that she would have taken over the responsibility of her children. But Lalloo left prison with the groceries and proceeded home, without checking to see where her children were staying, and if they needed her help, love or comfort.
A mother’s job is the toughest job in the world, you need to be your children’s guardian, friend, confidant, driver, cook, protector and so many other things. It is understandable to need a break sometimes, but to give birth to children and not seem to care about their well-being should be inexcusable. These were the sentiments of Lalloo’s sister, who said with a heavy heart that it would have been better if her sister had taken a “stop to not get pregnant anymore.”
She opined that the money which paid Lalloo’s fine could have provided basic necessities for her four young children who attend school. She said although it pained her heart, she would have preferred for her sister to have remained in prison and received counselling.
Irene Benn, 35, of Lot 164 Levi Dam, Angoy’s Avenue said, “She say let them stay at Alpha Home.” Benn said she believes her sister may be suffering from a mental disorder, as she cannot seem to comprehend or process some of the decisions Lalloo makes when it comes to her children. “I went and meet with the probation officer and tell them if them want release her the best thing let she go take a stop. She cannot be making the children and dropping them down for other people to take the stress and responsibility. That is not fair,” the women pointed out.
Benn explained that most of the children’s fathers, if not all, are absent from their lives, rendering them orphans.
Benn is working on building a new home which can accommodate her family and Lalloo’s 12-year-old daughter Angela who is in her care. The oldest of the five girls lives next door to Benn. “The children are the ones who are suffering,” Benn lamented.
Angela who is a student at the Vryman’s Erven Secondary School said she finds it a bit challenging living with her aunt, since she is not accustomed to rules because in the past she had always fended for her herself, or was in an orphanage. She said she would like to spend the holiday at the Alpha Home since most of her siblings are there.
Benn reiterated that if persons would like to offer assistance to the family, it would be best to give it to the Alpha Home, so that the children there can benefit. When asked how she felt about receiving help, she explained that she won’t ask, since she did not want people to think she was doing it for the donation since she was assisting with Angela out of the “goodness of my heart.” However, she said, if help was to be provided to her she would not refuse it. Persons desirous of assisting Benn, who works and takes care of her children and Angela, can contact her on 665-5275 or 672-9659
Alpha Children’s Home
The Alpha Children’s Home, which is located at Lot 34 Gay Park, Greater New Amsterdam currently houses about 14 children. Founder Ester Bruyning explained that she and her husband started the home some 25 years ago.
Bruyning stated that three of Lalloo’s daughters, ages six, eight and ten currently reside there. Lalloo’s six-year-old daughter celebrated her birthday yesterday. Stabroek News was allowed to interact with the children for a few minutes. One of the girls, Rihanna, who attends the Overwinning Primary School said, “I wan go back and live with mommy,” while another, Neena shook her head in agreement. According to the caretaker, Lalloo was expected to visit her daughter, who was celebrating her birthday. However, it was already 2 pm when Stabroek News visited and Lalloo was not in sight as yet. Her six-year-old was patiently awaiting her visit when this newspaper departed.
Bruyning said, “The girls are just like any other children, you could have seen that they were left on their own to do whatever they want. They had no kind of parental training or guidance.”
She noted that the home does not take a large group of children at once, since they believe that each child should be given enough attention and that they should also be tended to, cared for and loved equally.
She said she was working on instilling values in the girls and the other children as well, so that they can leave the home and become valued members of society and excel in all of their endeavours.
Anyone desirous of making a contribution and brightening up the lives of children who are in need, can contact the Alpha Home on telephone numbers 333-6937 or 6677167.
