Today marks six months since Black Bush Polder lost Nathanael Ledra, a young teacher, after he was fatally struck along the Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice Public Road by a Ministry of Finance vehicle which was allegedly making a U-Turn at the time.
Commander of Region Five, Kurleigh Simon when contacted once again noted that the file is with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and as such the police are awaiting advice.
Nathanael, a teacher attached to the Black Bush Secondary School and of Mibicuri North, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne was riding motorcycle CK 370. The accident reportedly happened around 3.45 pm on July 18.
The driver of the vehicle, Tarachand Balgobin, Director of Projects at the Ministry of Finance, was placed on $100,000 bail following the accident.
The ministry’s vehicle, a motor pickup, PTT 5255, was proceeding west along the Number Three Village Public Road while Ledra was proceeding in the same direction behind the vehicle when it is alleged that the vehicle made a sudden U-Turn resulting in the collision which left Ledra dead.
Ledra’s father, Samuel Ledra, 62, an assistant pastor has since met with Commander Simon; Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn; Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo; the Police Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility and has even written a letter to President Irfaan Ali seeking assistance in the matter.
The father is baffled as to why the driver of the vehicle has not yet faced any charges.
In an interview with Stabroek News yesterday, he pointed out that there have been several accidents, murders and other crimes after his son’s accident and persons in those matters have already been charged – some in a matter of days – but his family is still awaiting charges to be filed.
“They are the head of the country and we are citizens of the country who can we turn to? I don’t know where to turn to, I just leave it in the hands of God now.”
He stated, “My perspective is like my son, nobody cares about him, and it is being swept under the carpet. Nobody is looking, how come this man hasn’t passed through the court, is he above the law?”
The father also said that he wished to make it clear that he has not accepted any sort of compensation or settlement as is being peddled online by some persons.
He stressed that after the flood earlier in the year destroyed most of his farm, his son who resided with him had been working and supporting the family but following the accident, his family has been left to pick up the pieces. He said, “They deprived the community of a teacher as well.”
According to the father, the family has not come to terms with the death of the young teacher and is unsure whether they will have any sort of closure until the driver is placed before the court and faces the full force of the law.
