Dragonfly Centre: Chopped woman warded at Hospital

Mission

Non-Profit, 501(c)(3)

Mission: The Dragonfly Centre is committed to the elimination of domestic violence against women and their children by providing victim friendly services that promotes the empowerment of survivors; through advocacy, public awareness and education and community based initiatives.

Vision: The Dragonfly Centre envisions a world free of violence against women and their children and social justice for all. We are founded on the vision and belief that every person has the right to live in a safe environment free from violence and the fear of violence and strive to work collaboratively with the community to provide victim friendly services to support domestic violence victims, survivors to the stage of thriving.

Now on Facebook:

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Chopped woman warded at Hospital

By Darcel Choy Thursday, December 10 2015

BELIEVING her to be dead, after he chopped her repeatedly, Narine Singh drank a poisonous substance, collapsed on the pavement near Woodford Street in Arima and died on Tuesday night. His victim, Marilyn Gallan, 56, survived his assault and remains warded in serious but stable condition at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) in Mt Hope.

According to police reports, Gallan of San Rafael was walking along Farfan Street in Arima at about 7.30 pm when Singh ran up to her with a cutlass in hand and chopped her four times. As she fell to the ground, her blood staining the road, Singh threw away the cutlass and walked away while drinking a poisonous substance from a bottle. A few minutes later, he collapsed near a bakery on Woodford Street and died.

Gallan was taken to the Arima Health Facility and later transferred to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope, where she underwent emergency surgery and is now warded. Newsday visited the area where the incident occurred and spoke to several people who said they were not surprised by what happened as Singh had expressed his intentions to kill Gallan and himself before.

One woman who did not want to give her name disclosed that Singh and Gallan were in a relationship but Gallan ended it after a “violent incident” occurred two months ago. The woman said Singh begged Gallan to resume the relationship promising he would behave himself. But she refused and that upset him a great deal.

She said when Singh expressed his intention to commit murder and then take his own life, many people tried to talk him out of it.

She said she did not know him very well but from seeing him around he appeared to be a “jolly” person. Singh who was originally from Matura was a costume jewelry vendor along Queen Street, Arima. One man, who claimed he witnessed the entire incident, said that after Singh attacked Gallan, he (the eyewitness) and a few other men chased and hit him some lashes.

“But he was done drinking something from a Hennessy bottle.

I told the fellars not to hit him again. Let the police reach and take him to the station. But then he started to froth from the mouth.

“I told them whatever he take there it look like is poison. So we called the police. I don’t know why he do that. He kill himself over a woman? Steups. Boy, I would have moved on...go in my bed and let natural causes take me,” the man said.

One man who knew Singh very well disclosed that he attempted suicide two times before. “He jumped off a building the first time and survived and the second time, he drank poison.

“This time he succeded though,” the man said. Arima Mayor George Hadeed, who yesterday was speaking to businessmen near to where the incident occurred expressed concern about what happened, noting that it was only on Saturday, the Arima Borough Corporation held a domestic violence event in Arima.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,221073.html

No comments:

Post a Comment

A Little Background…..

In 2007 I was introduced to the twin island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is a beautiful tropical country located in the southern most part of the Caribbean archipelago. However, the opportunity to travel to this part of the world would not present itself until March of 2009. It was an incredible experience to be able to visit a country where I had never been before and I literally knew no-one. I had the privilege to experience a new culture and meet many wonderful people who made my trip an amazing experience. Although the purpose of my visit was recreational, something happened that changed all of that. One evening while on a hike with my tour guide and one of the locals at The ASA Wright Nature Centre, one of the men asked me where I was from and what I did for a living. It was at that moment that I disclosed that I was a Domestic Violence Advocate. He paused, looked at me and replied,… “we need you here”. At that moment I did not fully understand what he meant or how I could help.

A few days after this I visited one of the local court houses to learn about how someone could obtain a protection order. What I discovered disturbed me greatly, to say the least. The process by which abused individuals could obtain legal protections left much to be desired. This sparked grave concern for victims coupled with a desire to learn more about the local system and services. After I finished my travels all I could think about was the need of the people in Trinidad and Tobago. It was shortly after my return to the United States that the Dragonfly Centre for Women’s Empowerment and Transformation began to take form. While completing my Bachelors degree at Evergreen College, I developed an Individual Learning Contract entitled “Domestic Violence in Trinidad and Tobago” and was awarded The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. This allowed me to return to Trinidad and Tobago for my final quarter at the end of December of 2009 for my nine week study. My focus was on services addressing domestic violence. What I came away with was the echoing cries for help by the people who freely shared their personal views and stories. Although I wasn’t quite sure what, I knew I had to do something. As a consequence, it was these cries that gave birth to and helped shape the Dragonfly Centre to be what it is, a multifaceted institution with a focus on public education, shaping public policy and providing direct victim friendly services to support families dealing with domestic violence.