The relatives of Nathanael Ledra, a Black Bush Polder teacher who died in July, 2021 along the Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice Public Road after a collision with a Ministry of Finance vehicle, are again pleading for justice and clarity as to what is happening with the matter since it has been over one year and the driver of the vehicle is yet to face any charge.
Stabroek News was told last year that the file was resent from the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for additional investigation. Commander of Region Five, Kurleigh Simon at that time had said that this was done, after which the file was resent on October 12 for advice.
However, since then the relatives of Ledra have not received any update on the matter despite visiting several public offices for information.
Nathanael, a teacher attached to the Black Bush Secondary School and of Mibicuri North, Black Bush Polder, was riding motorcycle CK 370 when the accident occurred around 3.45 pm on July 18, last year.
The driver of the vehicle, Tarachand Balgobin, Director of Projects at the Ministry of Finance, was placed on $100,000 bail pending the outcome of the investigation.
The ministry’s vehicle, a motor pick up, PTT 5255, was proceeding west along the Number Three Village Public Road while Ledra was proceeding in the same direction behind the vehicle. It is alleged that the vehicle made a sudden U turn and struck the bike ridden by Ledra.
Ledra’s father, Samuel Ledra, 63, an assistant pastor of Lot 195 Mibicuri North, Black Bush Polder, said that the vehicle also ran over Ledra’s motorcycle. The man said that although several persons witnessed the accident no charges have been filed in the matter.
According to the elderly man, he even wrote the DPP’s Office requesting an update on the matter, “and a female from the office called me and asked if I’m Nathanael’s father and said they received the letter and then put down the phone.”
He noted, that at this stage he is unsure of who or where to turn to for justice for his son, as according to him he has already written to President Irfaan Ali and met with the Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo and Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn. Additionally, Ledra has also visited the Police Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) several times.
The father who seems to be at his wits end said, “It tells me clearly he’s protected by the political people in high office.” The father then questioned whether the only option left, “is to come out on the road and burn before we get action. That is not fair, that seems to be the only way you get actions in Guyana, when you go on the lawless line.”
According to Ledra his family has faced the brunt of the trauma of the accident as they are barely able to cope with the loss of his son. He explained that his wife has fallen ill since the accident and refuses to leave home even to attend church, while his eldest son, also a teacher, is forced to take time off every now and then to deal with the loss.
He further explained, that his youngest son, who was enrolled to study medicine at the University of Guyana has since dropped out, while his daughter a court clerk is also finding it hard to come to terms with the death of her brother.
“It was really a tragic event for us, we were knitted together and we are still grieving…It seems like nothing happened and that is the end of it”, the father said.
He continued, “Who can I turn to? Where can I turn? I wrote the DPP, I went to the OPR, they all turn a blind eye and a deaf ear on my position. The rights of poor people in this country are trampled on.”
Ledra is pleading with the authorities to file charges against the driver and let the law take its course in the matter.
