The murder of 14-year-old Raheem Abdool of the Sad’r Boys Orphanage has come as a complete shock, the members of the Guyana United Sad’r Islamic Anjuman (GUSIA), under whose auspices the institution is run, said yesterday.
A joint statement issued by the President of the GUSIA, Yacoob Hussein, the Executive members of the organisation and the Khadija Rahaman family, expressed shock at the circumstances attending the death of Abdool.
Nazir Hamid and Yusuf Rahaman appeared in court on Tuesday accused of beating Abdool to death over some missing money. His body was found dumped at Liliendaal.
The Minister of Social Services, Bibi Shadick, also told Stabroek News that there were cases of abuse at the Kitty orphanage and some boys were used as child labour.
The statement said one of the men accused of the murder of Abdool, Nazir Hamid, has been acting in the capacity of President of GUSIA for the last four years in the absence of the incumbent President, Hafiz Rahaman.
Members of Rahaman family, who were active in GUSIA, have been living in the United States for the past four years and Hamid had been appointed manager of K. Rahaman and Sons, the family’s business and assumed responsibility for supervising the daily functioning of the Orphanage.
“The alleged criminal behaviour of Mr Hamid and his accomplice is incomprehensible to the members of GUSIA,” who along with the Rahaman family “are deeply saddened by the death of their young member, and extend their sincerest sympathies to his family,” the statement added.
It said GUSIA fully supports the investigations being pursued by the police.