Twelve-year-old Devi Persaud left her Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara (WBD) home on Monday and never returned and her family is seeking the public’s assistance in locating her.
In a telephone interview with Stabroek News yesterday, the child’s aunt, Aklema Persaud, also known as ‘Seema,’ explained that Persaud, called ‘Ashley,’ left her 74-year-old grandmother’s home on Monday morning to visit her but she never showed up.
Since then Devi has not been seen or heard from. Aklema lives some five minutes away from Devi.
Aklema told Stabroek News that on Monday morning, Devi informed her grandmother that she was going to visit her.
“On Monday she bathe and suh and she seh how she ah guh aunty Seema. Suh me muddah seh ‘alright tek yuh time and watch the road fuss before yuh cross and suh’. Meh muddah lef she fah come,” Aklema said.
Devi never showed up. “She never reach up to now. We never see she or hear nothing,” Aklema said.
Several checks were made for her but she was not located. A missing person report was also lodged at the Wales Police station. “We check around. We make a report cause we nah see she come home and suh. We go back the next day (Tuesday) …..There is no answer. No trace. We nah hear nothing up to now,” Aklema told this newspaper.
Persaud’s mother passed away some eight years ago. Since then she has been living with her grandmother. She wrote the NGSA and secured a place at Patentia Secondary School. She is scheduled to start the new school term on Monday.
Aklema said the family has no idea where Devi might have gone. “Me ask me muddah if she and Ashley got any problem or whatever so ever. She seh ‘no’. Me seh ‘you and she row or anything?’ She seh ‘no’….She never escape or we never get this kinda problem with her. First time this happen,” Aklema related.
The family also contacted Devi’s father, who she would visit from time to time. Aklema said he related that while he has not seen Devi, she called him on Monday and told him that she wanted to come by his place.
However, he told her that it was not possible at that time since he was on his way to work.
“Meh praying, meh begging God fah the best so she can come home. If anybody see she or anything, me hope to God that they can find out about me, they can call me, me can go uplift her or whatever. I very willing if anybody could help me in my situation right now,” the distressed Aklema said.
Anyone who might have seen Devi or knows about her whereabouts is asked to contact Aklema on 698-9552 or the nearest police station.
