Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud has described the killing of six-year-old Orlando Jaikarran as “monstrous” and condemned the alleged use of religion to sow discord within families.

“I unequivocally condemn any pujari, as is alleged in the newspaper, who causes destruction in homes by uttering statements under the guise of religion,” Persaud said.
She said it was unconscionable to create doubt and negativity in people’s minds and called for the child’s father to face the full force of the law.

Persaud also urged people to avoid individuals who claim to predict the future and encourage harm to others for personal benefit, saying such behaviour was neither divine nor an act of goodness and must not be tolerated.

Orlando’s decomposed body was recovered from a canal along the Bath Sea Dam, West Coast Berbice, early Tuesday after his father, who is in custody, helped investigators locate it.

Region Five Regional Commander Senior Superintendent Lonsdale Whithrite told Ignite News that the body was in an advanced state of decomposition, making it difficult to determine whether there were any visible marks.

The search began at about 9:45 p.m. on Monday, and the body was found at about 1 a.m. on Tuesday among debris on the northern side of the canal.
“Based on some information that came to light last evening, we conducted a search of the canal that runs next to the sea dam,” Whithrite said.

He said CCTV footage supplied by residents and information from the boy’s father helped advance the investigation.

Asked whether Orlando was alive when he was placed in the canal, Whithrite said it was too early to make a determination. He declined to say whether the father had confessed, adding that investigators must complete their enquiries before deciding on the next legal step.

Two other people detained in connection with the case have been released.

Orlando was reported missing on Wednesday, October 14, after his father and siblings discovered he was not at home. He lived in Bath with his father and two brothers, aged seven and 10.

His parents had been separated for about two years, according to his paternal grandmother, 65-year-old Dhankumarie Gowkarran.

Police searched several locations in Bath, including surrounding backlands, on Friday, October 16. Residents and drone operators also joined the search but were later asked to stop over concerns that they could disturb evidence.

Whithrite thanked residents for their assistance.