Seematie Chandra who was crushed to death on Wednesday under her house at Bonasika had been urged by her mother to relocate from the area.
Seematie’s daughter, Tosha Sookdeo also died in the tragedy while they were feeding their puppies. Seematie’s mother, Shanta Liloutie told Stabroek News that she had warned her daughter to move from Bonasika and go to live with her at Philadelphia on the East Bank of Essequibo. Liloutie said that she had no idea that her daughter was living under such severe conditions.
She recalled that every time her now-deceased daughter visited her, she would “beg” her to bring the children to Philadelphia to live and get them enrolled in school. The mother lamented that her daughter never listened and instead went away and continued living with her husband, Tuliseram Sookdeo at Bonasika, Lower Essequibo River.
Liloutie said that whatever little she could have afforded she would give her daughter when she came to visit. The grandmother forcing back tears said that she cannot believe that her daughter is no more. She said that communication became less and less as her daughter did not have a phone.
“They kept the children away from us, I don’t even know their names … my granddaughter with me now I will see to get her in school.”
The grandmother informed that her own husband had died some 18 years ago and she is currently living with her son and daughter.
She also said that Tuliseram Sookdeo is taking care of the son and because he is always going with his father to the farm, he does not want to go to school. The sad grandmother said that the children are undocumented and do not have birth certificates.
The children are currently in Philadelphia. She also recalled that her daughter loved pets, especially dogs, and would take care of them.
Thirty-five-year-old Seematie and her 6-year-old daughter tragically lost their lives while they were feeding puppies. The house collapsed pinning them underneath. The husband Tulsieram Sookdeo is asking for a house lot so he can have his children with him.
