Cane Grove murder widow loses child to gastro
In dire need of assistance
By Samantha Alleyne
Jennifer Khan
|
Jennifer Khan, who lost her husband and son in the gruesome Cane Grove murders, has lost another child to gastroenteritis and is in dire need of succour to maintain herself and remaining three young children.
Khan is still grieving over the loss of her husband, James Sanichar called 'Black James', and their six-year-old son, Afraz Khan whose burnt remains were found by a party of policemen on April 6. The visibly distraught mother of five is also mourning the death of her last son, four-month-old Vijay who succumbed to gastroenteritis a few weeks ago.
However, the woman said, she still had to remain strong for her three other children, eight-year-old Talash, three-year-old Yasmin and two-year-old Ajay.
"Me really need some help, things really deh bad," were the first words uttered by the woman when she visited Stabroek News yesterday. The woman said that since the death of her husband, who was the sole breadwinner of the home, she had been solely dependent on her relatives for the upkeep of herself and children.
She said that except for the help she received from Sylvia Conway and her daughter, Beverly Conway, who along with other persons had presented some items to the woman and a small amount of cash, she had not received any other assistance. She said that after the first donation, Beverly Conway had sent a young man to her home who assisted her with some food items. Singing Conway's praises, Khan said that the young woman had been in constant contact with her and that she even visited Conway and received some more assistance.
Reflecting on the difficult journey since her husband lost his life, the woman told Stabroek News that some time after the death of her husband she had approached the Ministry of Home Affairs. She said she had an audience with Minister Ronald Gajraj who after hearing her story referred her to the Ministry of Housing and Water. A visit to the latter ministry proved to be somewhat fruitful, as the woman was promised a plot of land. Not long after the promise she was issued with a letter stating that she was given a piece of land at Mahaicony.
But what can a jobless widow who has three children to support do with an uncleared plot of land that she has to pay $58,000 for?
This question still baffles Khan, who said she was led to believe that she would have received some assistance from the government, but does not see any forthcoming.
Yesterday Stabroek News suggested that Khan visit the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security to apply for public assistance. However, the visit proved to be futile. The woman was advised by the representative of the ministry to whom she spoke that she should return to the ministry in two weeks.
Stabroek News contacted personal assistant to the minister in that ministry, Rajendra Bissessar who confirmed that there was no ready assistance that could be given to Khan.
Bissessar said that the ministry now has 500 applications for assistance being processed. He pointed out that although the ministry has been allocated $10 million by the government, the money was disbursed by the Ministry of Finance. He said the largest sum of money the ministry could pay out at one time was $10,000.
He said the 500 applications on hand would have to be processed, at which time, the ministry would determine if any more funds were available for further assistance. "It is not easy. It is hard. Poverty is a big problem out there and we cannot alleviate all at one time." Quizzed on the issue of emergency cases, Bissessar said most of the cases were emergencies.
The letter that Khan received from the Ministry of Housing and Water informed her that she had been allocated the land at an intended cost of $58,000. It required her to pay the sum of $29,000, as a deposit on the purchase price within 90 days of issue of the letter.
The letter was issued on June 16 and the biggest problem facing Khan is where to find $29,000. She has not visited the plot of land as yet but plans to do so today, after which she would need assistance in clearing it and moving her small home from Cane Grove to the new site.
Questioned on the role her family is playing in supporting her, the saddened woman explained that although her family had been very supportive they were "very poor." She said that her brothers were all working and it would be hard for them to get days off to assist her in the clearing of the land.
She said that if anyone needed to contact her to offer assistance, they could do so by calling her in-laws at Enmore on telephone number 070-6257 and leaving a message.
-- Stabroek News, June 20, 2000
A Jennifer Khan House Trust Fund was set up in Guyana at the Demerara Bank (Account 4010401), with one of the trustees being a private school teacher -- Beverly Conway. Ms.Conway agreed to accept and deposit the funds raised on this website.
Tally Sheet
Amounts given in other currencies were converted into US$ before being listed on the Tally Sheet. Check exhange rates [opens a separate browser window].
|
Fundraising Goal, US$ |
$ 200.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Donor |
Amount |
Total |
Amount |
Total |
Percentage |
|
Number |
Pledged |
Pledged |
Received |
Received |
of Goal |
|
US$ |
US$ |
US$ |
US$ |
Received |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2000-1-1 |
$ 20.00 |
$ 20.00 |
$ 20.00 |
$ 20.00 |
10% |
|
2000-1-2 |
$ 25.00 |
$ 45.00 |
$ 25.00 |
$ 45.00 |
23% |
|
2000-1-3 |
$ 13.33 |
$ 58.33 |
$ 13.33 |
$ 58.33 |
29% |
|
2000-1-4 |
$ 30.00 |
$ 88.33 |
$ 30.00 |
$ 88.33 |
44% |
|
2000-1-5 |
$ 30.00 |
$ 118.33 |
$ 30.00 |
$ 118.33 |
59% |
|
2000-1-6 |
$ 20.00 |
$ 138.33 |
$ 20.00 |
$ 138.33 |
69% |
|
2000-1-7 |
$ 20.00 |
$ 158.33 |
$ 20.00 |
$ 158.33 |
79% |
|
2000-1-8 |
$ 20.00 |
$ 178.33 |
$ 20.00 |
$ 178.33 |
89% |
|
2000-1-9 |
$ 20.00 |
$ 198.33 |
$ 20.00 |
$ 198.33 |
99% |
|
2000-1-10 |
$ 10.00 |
$ 208.33 |
No response |
$ 198.33 |
99% |
|
2000-1-11 |
$ 15.00 |
$ 223.33 |
$ 15.00 |
$ 213.33 |
107% |
|
2000-1-12 |
$ 30.00 |
$ 253.33 |
$ 30.00 |
$ 243.33 |
122% |
|
2000-1-13 |
$ 30.00 |
$ 283.33 |
$ 30.00 |
$ 273.33 |
137% |
|
2000-1-14 |
$ 20.00 |
$ 303.33 |
No response |
$ 273.33 |
137% |
|
2000-1-15 |
$ 20.00 |
$ 323.33 |
$ 20.00 |
$ 293.33 |
147% |
|
2000-1-16 |
$ 20.00 |
$ 343.33 |
No response |
$ 293.33 |
147% |
|
2000-1-17 |
$ 30.00 |
$ 373.33 |
$ 30.00 |
$ 323.33 |
162% |
This fundraising drive raised a total of US$323.33, with donations coming from members of WGML. Thanks to all contributors!
The statement of accounts for this amount is as follows:
|
Amount presented at Bank
|
US$293.21
|
|
Bank Charges to Wire Funds
|
-US$17.21
|
|
Amount wired by Bank to Trust Fund Account at Demerara Bank
|
US$276.00
|
|
Amount sent by Western Union to Beverly Conway, Trustee
|
US$30.00
|
|
Total Donation sent
|
US$306.00
Guy$54,957.60 @ US$1 = Guy$179.60
|
The Trustees have confirmed that US$261 and Guy$5328 was received with thanks. [Read]
UPDATE
Thursday, 5 December 2002
Dear Wayne,
Yesterday I was just browsing around on the net, and though Yahoo I came
across your website advertising the building fund for Jennifer, way back
when. I was so surprised to see it, cause even while we were doing promos
to raise $$ for her, I hadn't seen the site then.
Anyhow, to update you, I'm happy to let you know that Jenny and her 3
children finally have their own home! Great!! The Gafoor's were primarily
responsible for providing her with a low-cost 2 bedroom concrete house at
Foulis, ECD. I've been to see the house and its QUITE comfortable for her
and her family. Updates in the newspapers were not possible at the time of
the handing over, during to the unrest on the East Coast (Buxton). No one
wanted to take a ride up the coast pass those villages.
So, once again, I must say thanks to YOU and all those anonymous donors who
stepped in and truly showed the kindness in their hearts. I think back now
on how long the process took, and yours, Mr.Meharam Surgrim (in Toronto)
and Mr. & Mrs. Gafoor generosity made all the difference in the world, to
helping one more unfortunate person.
Thanks again Wayne!
Beverly Conway
