It’s almost three months since two members of a Wakapau Village, Pomeroon family died after they mysteriously fell ill and their relatives are still to receive the results of toxicology tests.
A relative, Samantha Williams on Monday told Stabroek News that on every occasion she visits the hospital to check if the results are ready, she is being “pushed around”.
“They just saying it’s not ready as yet, not ready as yet,” the frustrated woman said.
She added that it remains unclear what is causing the delay while noting that the family is unaware whether the testing is being done locally or overseas.
“I ask if it is in the country or if it was out the country, they said they won’t be able to say,” Samantha said.
She noted that she was told that she has to speak to the doctor directly for that information but every attempt proved futile. “Every time I try to get on to the doctor, I don’t get on to him,” she said.
Desperate for answers, Samantha explained that the family even approached the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs for assistance in getting closure.
“We even forward it to the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs and ask them if they could somehow help us to at least get some sort of closure as to what happened,” she related.
The woman further related that the family is dissatisfied with the manner in which the matter is being dealt with and are seeking closure.
“….I just feel dissatisfied about it. It hard to just move on without knowing what exactly happened… So I am not satisfied at all with the investigation that they promised, I think the police had promised us a thorough investigation and so far nobody else is questioned, nothing else….we are completely dissatisfied with all of that,” Samantha stated.
The two family members; Edward Richards and Salema Thomas were hospitalised on separate occasions in mid-June after they complained of feeling unwell.
On June 19th, Richards, 76, succumbed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) after being hospitalised for about a week.
Two days prior to his death, his daughter, Salema had succumbed.
Samantha had previously told Stabroek News that autopsies performed on both of their bodies listed the cause of their deaths as inconclusive.
As a result, samples were taken for testing.
Samantha had said that relatives were told then that the results would be available within the next three to four weeks.
Charles Richards, Salema’s brother, had previously explained to Stabroek News that she and her husband were taken to the Charity Hospital after they complained of feeling unwell.
Edward, who lived with the couple, fell ill the following day and was also admitted, followed by Gavin Richards and Norman Thomas.
“They get symptoms like vomiting. That lead to yellow eye, like pale yellow, and they urinate very dark in colour,” Charles had said.
It remains unclear what might have led to the family’s illnesses. “…The last I spoke to the doctor in the ICU, she said that they have three possible suspected diagnoses but cannot confirm any,” Samantha had said.
Samantha noted that even though doctors have not informed them of the diagnosis, the prescriptions she received to purchase injections for Gavin and Edward, listed their diagnosis as cyanide poisoning.
The family has denied speculation that they may have consumed cassava bread that was contaminated.
The other family members who were hospitalised after experiencing similar symptoms were treated and subsequently discharged.
