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Armless woman is thankful for life
Sonia Hinds
By Trevona Weekes
Life is a God-given gift and it is a fundamental right of everyone in Guyana.
Fifty-three year old Sonia Hinds claimed that right in August 2000 when her partner, Courtney Purlett, chopped her brutally about the body and severing her arms. But she was determined to live and held on to life. She was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
Today, Sonia, who resides in Barnwell North- Mocha, is thankful to God for life! She recalled that it was very hard to adapt for the first few years because she wasn’t born that way.
However, with the help of the God she serves and who she says is her constant support, she is now able to do a lot for herself. Sonia, with no hands, can independently eat, bathe, wash clothes, make up her bed, sweep and do many other chores around the house. She finds it a bit disturbing, though, that she cannot comb her hair.
The mother of three, who lives with her youngest child and her niece, depends on her monthly NIS pension, a monthly contribution from a kind-hearted citizen and a monthly contribution from a church, for her daily bread. She is well supported by her only sister and other relatives.
Sonia told Kaieteur News that she is no longer supported by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security since authorities believe that her NIS pension is enough to sustain her for the month.
Asked to comment on the incident, the woman said that she really does not like to revisit the past as it brings great pain and depression.
Courtney Purlett was remanded for three years after the incident. Following a trial in 2003, he was jailed for 15 years. He is currently serving that sentence.
At that hearing, Sonia was unable to claim damages but in 2005 a Civil Suit was filed against Courtney where the judge held that Sonia was entitled to $21.1M compensation.
To this date Sonia has not received a “cent” but is very thankful for life.
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