A Ministry of Public Health campaign is now underway to curb the abuse of alcohol, which was linked to at least nine deaths in September.
Four of those deaths occurred within a four-day period, which renewed calls for urgent interventions.
The Ministry of Public Health has since started a campaign to educate the public about the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption.
In a 49-second video message posted on its Facebook page, the Ministry’s Chronic Disease Unit is advising persons to drink responsibly and not to become a “statistic.” It notes the many health issues and behavioural changes associated with alcohol consumption and also highlights its link to social issues, such as domestic violence, as well as road fatalities.
Sunday Stabroek was told that the video will soon be aired on television.
Last month, President David Granger informed that government’s national plan to tackle excessive alcohol consumption is being pioneered by the Ministry and particular focus will be placed on schools.
“I think that is where the habit starts and they are trying to reduce it at the level of school children, so it is expected when children don’t grow up with the habit of drinking alcohol, in excess, they wouldn’t do it when they are adults,” he had said, when asked by this newspaper for an update.
Shortly after taking office in 2015, Granger had described alcohol as “one of two evils” that the country had to contain and he assured that, over time, measures would be put in place to deal with it.
Observers have questioned government’s decision to take on tobacco smoking, when most of the effects of alcohol abuse occur in the short term and have violent consequences.
Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said two weeks ago that persons must exercise self-restraint when consuming alcohol and understand that such beverages are bad for them. “…It has to do largely with how we cultivate our next generation. We sometimes feel that we could tell our young kids ‘come tek a lil drink’ and we have done two surveys, a school survey and a household survey that proves that children in Guyana start drinking at the age [of] 11 and Guyanese are the biggest binge drinkers in the entire Caribbean. When we tek one, we want two, then three, then four, five and so one. Then we get drunk,” he observed.
Statistics
According to this newspaper’s records, seven persons died last month in vehicular accidents where the driver was said to be intoxicated; another was killed during a domestic dispute; and in the other case the deceased died as a result of health complications associated with heavy drinking.
West Ruimvelt resident Jason Marques died during the wee hours of last week Sunday, the last day of September, after the car he was in collided with another at the intersection of Middle and Carmichael streets, Georgetown.
Based on the information provided to this newspaper, Marques, a 26-year-old father of two, along with his friends, Mark Jacobs, 17, of Lot 32 Campbellville and Timothy Fairbairn, 26, of Lot 212 Charlotte Street, Georgetown had just left the Palm Court night spot on Main Street and were heading to another popular nightspot in Alberttown when the accident occurred.
According to police reports, the accident occurred at approximately 1.50am. The police explained that motorcar PRR 4249, driven by a resident of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, was proceeding north along Carmichael Street when it collided with motor jeep PMM 52, which was proceeding east along Middle Street. It was reported that the driver of the car failed to stop at the intersection and, as a result, collided with the jeep.
Following the collision, the jeep toppled and the occupants, which included Marques and his friends, sustained injuries about their bodies. They were rushed to the hospital by public-spirited citizens but Marques succumbed while receiving treatment.
Police said the two drivers—who both escaped unhurt—were drunk. They have since been charged with drunk driving while one of them has been charged with causing Marques’ death by dangerous driving.
Meanwhile, Isaiah Corlette, 25, of 99 Castello Housing Scheme and Mikhail Punch, 25, of Lot 33 Middle Street, Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara died one day apart following a vehicular accident at Liliendaal Rupert Craig Highway on Friday, September 28th.
The two, along with Akeisha Jones, 24, of Leopold Street, Werk-en-Rust, were returning to the city after hanging out at the Plaisance Line Top in celebration of Corlette’s birthday. Punch was the driver of the vehicle at the time of the accident, which occurred around 2.20 am. The victims were picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where Corlette was pronounced dead on arrival. Punch and Jones were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Punch succumbed the following day.
The police investigation revealed that the vehicle in which the three were travelling, PWW 676, was proceeding west along the southern carriageway of the road when Punch reportedly lost control and collided with a utility pole. As a result of the impact, they were all flung onto the roadway.
On Thursday, September 27th, Ryan Garret, 30, of Lot 1 Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice, died after his motorbike slammed into a concrete fence along the Number 6 Village, West Coast Berbice.
According to information gathered, the man, in the company of others, was drinking at a playfield in his home village before he left to go purchase ice from a nearby village. It was while returning around 3 pm, that he lost control of his motorcycle.
The preceding alcohol-fueled accident occurred on September 12th, when Conrad Alleyne, 64, of 33 Hague, West Coast Demerara (WCD), was killed after a senior police officer who was driving under the influence of alcohol struck the bicycle he was riding.
That accident occurred at around 7.20 pm along the Boerasirie Bridge, WCD Public Road.
In a statement, the police explained that the vehicle involved in the accident, PTT 992, was at the time being driven by a Deputy Superintendent of Police, who is stationed in ‘D’ Division (West Demerara). While the police did not reveal the identity of the senior officer, sources identified him as Patrick Todd, who is the Officer-in-Charge of the No.2 Sub-Division.
During the initial stages of the investigation, Todd was administered a breathalyser test and his breath alcohol content was found to be above the legal limit.
Meanwhile, Satesh Sookdeo, 21, was allegedly stabbed in the chest with a broken louvre pane by his father on September 8th, after he intervened in an altercation between his parents. He died in his mother’s arms.
Residents in the area previously told this publication that Mohan Sookdeo and his wife would usually have arguments in which Satesh would intervene. Reports indicated that this would occur whenever the elder Sookdeo would consume alcohol. The elder Sookdeo was charged with murder on September 12th.
The body of Malcolm Corlette, 37, was discovered face down with his arms twisted in the backlands of Number 54 Village, Corentyne by residents on September 6th. He was described as an alcoholic who, when intoxicated, was unable to control himself. There were no marks of violence on his body when he was found. It is suspected that after consuming alcohol he ventured into the backlands, where he collapsed and died. A post mortem revealed that he died from hypovolemic shock, which is linked to excessive alcohol consumption.
On September 3rd, Kevon Tacourdeen, 32, was struck down and killed on Fairfield Public Road, Essequibo Coast. It is alleged that Tacourdeen, who was riding a motorcycle at the time, was hit by the driver of a pick-up, who was intoxicated and allegedly speeding at the time.
Akemo Anthony, 23, died on September 1st after an allegedly intoxicated policeman driving a force vehicle collided with him. The accident occurred around 11.40 pm on Mandela Avenue in the vicinity of Back Circle, East Ruimveldt.
The police had disclosed in a statement that the police constable failed the breathalyser test after the accident. The police added that the constable was proceeding east along the northern carriageway on Mandela Avenue while Anthony was proceeding in the opposite direction on motorcycle CJ511. According to the report, the Anthony turned north in an attempt to cross into Back Circle Street and the rank collided with him. The lawman has since been charged with both drunk driving and causing death by dangerous driving.
