Suicides rock Wakenaam

Last Updated on Sunday, 20 December 2015, 1:50 by GxMedia

The usually quiet Essequibo island of Wakenaam was Saturday plunged into mourning with two suicides- one by a sick and elderly man and the other by a young man with domestic problems.

Dead are 80-year old Sydney “Badri” Ramphal and Soma Bhryo, said to be in his 40s. They resided at Belle Plaine village on that agriculture-dependent island of about 17.5 square miles and a population of an estimated 9,000 persons.

Demerara Waves Online News was told that Ramphal, the owner of Anil Rum Shop, had previously attempted to commit suicide because he was fed up with his very poor health.

One week ago, Bhyro’s wife packed up all her belongings and left, resulting in serious depression and continually. 

They both committed suicide by hanging themselves at their homes.

Guyana recorded the highest rate of suicide in the world in 2012, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). 

Most Guyanese who commit suicide are of East Indian descent and they prefer to end their lives by consuming chemicals used in the agricultural sector.

Guyanese authorities are considering outlawing poor storage and easy access to items such as pesticides and weedicides.