Speech and occupational therapy for man kept in pen for 3 years

May 23, 2018 News

A 22-year-old man who was locked away like an animal for three years in a pen aback of a house, is progressing, says the Guyana Women Miners’ Association.
Urica Primus, President of the Guyana Women Miners Organization, told Kaieteur news that the young man, Gopaul Etwaroo, was seen by a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist who both recommended that he undergoes occupational and speech therapy.
Last Friday, Etwaroo was rescued from a backyard pen after being forced to live like an animal for over three years.
On Thursday, the Guyana Women Miners’ Organisation was contacted by an anonymous person who informed them that the young man’s father was housing him in a pen for the past ten years.
After checks were made, the Police were called in to rescue the young man.
On the day of the rescue, the pen was locked with chains from the outside allowing only his stepmother and father access.
He was found naked; and there were no clothing, sheets or mattress in the pen.
There was an offensive odour was emanating from the pen.

Gopaul Etwaroo in a police van after being freed from the pen he was forced to live in

The pen in which Gopaul was forced to live for over 3 years.

In addition, there were bottles used as eating utensils and Gopaul was forced to relieve himself in the pen.
Primus said that Gopaul has been showing progress since he was given back his freedom.
Primus explained that after his rescue, Gopaul was afraid to speak in crowded areas; she said that today he appears to be more comfortable after spending some time with persons in the home in which he was placed.
“When he just went to the home, he would use any bucket to urinate and defecate but after being around the people in the home, he would now tell someone if he wants to use the washroom,” Primus said.
She said that for his safety, Gopaul’s location will not be disclosed.
After speaking to the social workers in Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Primus said that it was recommended that Gopaul remain in the home because of the progress.
Gopaul is expected to visit the hospital once a week where he will continue to receive therapy for his condition.
On the other hand, though his stepmother maintained that it was only three years Gopaul was “imprisoned”, the anonymous caller told the Guyana Women Miners Organisation that he was locked in the pen for 10 years.
Gopaul’s stepmother has a ten-year-old daughter who lives with the family.
Gopaul’s father and stepmother were arrested and held for questioning.
It is unclear what the two will be charged with.