The 16-year-old Berbician who was shot last Thursday night is expected to travel to Miami, U.S.A. for treatment, family members have confirmed.
Oumesh Ballram was shot in the abdomen during a robbery attempt at Number 69 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, last Thursday.
He was rushed to the Skeldon Hospital then to the New Amsterdam Hospital before finally referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital for treatment, where it was revealed that the bullet hit him just below his heart and caused damage to his spine.
According to his father, Dinesh Ballram, doctors at the Georgtown Public Hospital have not performed any surgeries to remove the bullet.
He related that they told him that his son had to be taken to the U.S. for treatment. The father disclosed that his son is conscious and doing well; however, he is only being fed liquids and fruits.
Ballram explained that he cannot take his son to a private hospital because the travel documents are being prepared by the Georgetown Public Hospital through the Health Ministry.
Distraught father
The distraught father said that by Tuesday, he will know exactly how far the processing of the papers has gone when he meets with a panel of doctors and the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer Michael Khan.
Meanwhile, the cambio dealer pointed out that the police have since held a person, whom he alleged is the perpetrator, only to let him go on Gy$50,000 station bail.
He stated that the lawmen even failed to inform him that someone was held; instead, he learnt from friends that the person was arrested but subsequently released. The man stressed that no identification parade was even held for suspect. “This country na get law… he get free and me son deh suffering there,” he vented.
He noted that he was busy with his injured son and did not get the time to check with the police on their investigations. However, Ballram remains adamant that the person held by the police is the same person who invaded his home and shot his son.
He disclosed that the alleged robber, who hails from Number 68 Village, is a known criminal and was only recently released from prison.
He added that the person was caught stealing and was beaten by residents. Ballram said that the incident has left his entire family in trauma since his other two children, ages 12 and 18, are scared to be alone in the house.
The cambio dealer at Skeldon Market, who sometimes does airport trips, lost his wife to cancer a few years ago and now he is forced to stop the hire trips to be with his children.
Power outage
Around 20:00h on Thursday evening, there was power outage in area and when electricity was restored, Dinesh went downstairs to switch over power from the inverter, leaving his two sons on the veranda while his daughter was in her room.
Oumesh was told to turn on the main switch which was located next to the veranda door; however, before he could do so, he was confronted by a man armed with a firearm and was subsequently shot.
Ballram fled for his life as several shots were fired at him. Nevertheless, after an alarm was raised, a minibus stopped and honked its horn, causing the gunman and his crew to panic and escape.
