An all-encompassing tragedy

Sep 08, 2017 Editorial, Features / Columnists

The heartless killing of 18-month-old Ronasha Pilgrim on Friday September 1, 2017, allegedly by her ex-convict uncle, has touched the raw emotions in Guyanese at home and abroad. The killing of children anywhere in the world is unthinkable, but the murder of this beautiful and innocent infant is shocking and unbearable. It is as if the future and hope of the nation has been dealt a fatal blow.
In a real sense this is one of the most gruesome murders of an infant in recent history. Not even the most inventive horror dramatist could have scripted or devised a murder so grisly. It is alleged that the toddler’s uncle, who as reported was high on some illegal substance, broke into their North Sophia home, savagely ripped a pair of gold earrings from her ears, flung her out of a window, buried her alive in a shallow grave, and then covered the grave with pieces of wood to cover his tracks. It was the most senseless and violent death of a toddler and because of it, part of the country dies.
Had she lived to become an adult, who knows what great things she could have achieved? She could have risen up amid her humble circumstances to become a leader, an educator, a CEO, or perhaps a high-ranking government official. But we will never know. What we do know is that she is gone too early and was not given a chance. Why her uncle allegedly buried her alive is a mystery? However, we condemn in the strongest possible terms this gruesome murder and express our condolences to the relatives of the deceased.
It is clear there are systems in place to ensure the safety and protection of children in the country, but one wonders if they are sufficient. Even though the authorities do not have the wherewithal to prevent the murders of children in some instances, the regularity with which the murders of children have occurred over the years shows that there is the need for greater monitoring across the board, especially those in single parent homes, as was the case with Ronasha Pilgrim.
It does not escape our notice that Little Ronasha and her two older brothers, ages12 and 10, were alone at home in their one-bedroom shack at the time their uncle broke in.
There have long been concerns about the mental health of persons using illegal drugs. More to the point, in many cases when caught, they are prosecuted, imprisoned and released without counseling or mental health check-ups. One can reasonably surmise that the suspect in the toddler’s murder is suffering from mental health issues because no rational person would even think about performing such maniacal acts.
The Ministry of Public Health and other health institutions should regularly examine and pronounce on the mental health of drug users in order to protect the most vulnerable members of society—children and the elderly. Needless to say, healthcare is not just needles and pills and surgeries and prescriptions. It is an examination of the fullness of the human being, the sacred soul housed within a fragile body.
The murderer of Ronasha Pilgrim may have mental health problems, but in a normal existence there can be absolutely no excuse for what he did. Having said that, we as a society cannot see incidents like this occur and turn a blind eye. We have to do better. Mental health issues are serious, but the public needs to be made more aware of this. We are treating mental health on the same footing as physical well-being? A look at some of the country’s major public health facilities reveals that little emphasis is being placed on mental health issues. Ronasha Pilgrim was innocent. Her demise is an all-encompassing tragedy.

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