A 16-year-old West Demerara mother was found dead in her bed last week, a day after she left a medical institution upon the advice of an “Obeah man”. Regrettably, her demise occurred before she could commence her treatment, and her family is now seeking the return of the $60,000 they paid to the self-proclaimed spiritual healer, known as “Dutchman,” a Suriname-based Guyanese.
The girl’s mother reached out to “Dutchman” several days ago when medical professionals were unable to diagnose her daughter’s condition. The young mother, who had recently given birth prematurely, never fully recovered from the complications that arose after childbirth, details of which, were not shared with this news outlet.
Family members mentioned that she had been frequently visiting emergency rooms after giving birth, complaining of persistent abdominal pain, nausea, and severe headaches. A close family member said that the young mother might have contracted a mosquito-borne illness following her pregnancy, which could have exacerbated her health issues over time.
Growing impatient with the lack of progress in the hospital, her mother decided to discharge her daughter and bring her back home. She believed that her daughter’s illness was beyond the scope of clinical treatment and began exploring alternative options. Convinced that a malevolent act had been perpetrated on her child, the mother was resolute in reversing the perceived curse, even in the face of the stepfather’s protests and his insistence on returning to the hospital.
Meanwhile, the young woman’s condition worsened despite attempts by several spiritualists to cure her. Things turned for the worse after she became immobile and would periodically lose consciousness. She was again rushed to the hospital at the intervention of the stepfather, only to be discharged days later by the mother. She did this upon the advice of the spiritual healer.
“Taakru Sani”
Sporting a brown t-shirt, blue jeans and an L-stitched Clarks shoes, Dutchman arrived at the residence on Friday in a blue and white mini-bus bearing a BAC number plate. He code-switched between Guyanese Creole and Sranan Tongo (Surinamese Creole). His body would spasm occasionally and he would let out what sounded like a native battle cry whenever he “sensed” the “taakru sani” (dark thing) in the environment. He then furnished the girl’s mother with a brown concoction with very specific directions.
He vowed to return the following day to “du ogri f’weki” (get rid of the evil). This was of course after he received a $60,000 first instalment. It was during this exchange that the identity of the person who had cast the spell on the now-dead girl was revealed. It was a close family member. In the meantime, the family was told to sanitize the environment with the potion. They were to purge the evil. Three times, they sprinkled it in and around the 15 x 15 shack.
The Kiss and the Blackout
That night, the young mother asked her grandmother to raise her feet, as she felt as if she was falling. That very night, neighbours heard the family laughing. They were playing games and singing. The mother recalled being summoned by her daughter’s weakened voice to share a kiss and requested that the infant be placed next to her. About six hours after the family went to bed, darkness overtook the neighbourhood – quite literally too. Ironically, it was the power outage that led to the shocking discovery.
The grandmother who got up heated without the comfort of a working fan, fumbled in the darkness to check on her granddaughter. By this time, rigor mortis had stepped in. The young woman appeared to have died much earlier that night. The mortified grandmother sounded the alarm. Calls to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station went unanswered, as did calls for an ambulance. A police officer eventually showed up, followed by a hearse. The body was subsequently taken to the mortuary.
Right to practice
The ordeal has left a bad taste in the mouths of residents, many of whom have publicly expressed their outrage, calling on action to be taken against the mother of the deceased. The police officer who spoke to this publication, emphasised the sensitivity of the incident. According to him, such preferences are protected.
Indeed, Freedom of Religion or Belief is a fundamental human right enshrined in various international human rights documents, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It protects an individual’s right to hold, practice, and manifest their religious or spiritual beliefs, including spiritual healing practices. He said that the young woman, also, prior to her demise, seemed open to this kind of treatment. He noted that while this may seem as “craziness” to some people, to others it is a part of their cultural identity.
As for the spiritual healer, the police officer said that the family should request a reimbursement. He added that “failure to return monies for service not provided” could be an arguing point for the family should it proceed with the matter legally.
Confrontation
However, more drama continues to unfold. As the family seeks to track down the illusive Dutchman, the person who is accused of casting the ominous spell on the now-deceased woman has learnt of her charge. Furious, the family member showed up two occasions; calling the mother of the deceased to desist from accusing her of performing witchcraft.
The door was kicked in, and expletives hurled as the verbal confrontation between the two women intensified, prompting residents to intervene. The disturbance was reported to the police and the woman has since been warned not to return to the house. Guyana Standard understands that a restraining order is in the works.
As for the baby, the father has committed to the child’s overall protection and safety. The teenage construction worker said he met the young woman about a year ago at a friend’s home and described her as strong, loving and caring. She was buried last Friday.
