Search continues for Ria

Today marks seven days since her husband, Mark Sookdeo, her children, her parents and other close relatives and friends have not seen or heard from her. On Sunday, investigators released an official police sketch of a man they believe could assist with their investigations.

So far that has not borne fruit although it is in circulation.

Three persons were detained over the weekend after investigators visited a house in Rochard Road, Penal. So far two of them have been released pending further investigations.

At about 8.15 a.m.

on Thursday last, Sookdeo was driving her red Nissan X-Trail vehicle and had just dropped off nine-year-old daughter, Elena, and fiveyear- old son, Toraz, to classes at the Picton Presbyterian School, Picton when she drove a short distance away to turn. It was the last time she was seen as a report stated that her path was blocked by a black Nissan X-Trail vehicle from which a man dressed in police uniform exited and snatched her before bungling her into the black vehicle and speeding off.

Surveillance cameras captured the image of the vehicle and a black X Trail has since been impounded.

And Oropouche East Member of Parliament, Dr Roodal Moonilal, yesterday called on the Ministries of Education and National Security to immediately install CCTV cameras outside all schools.

“Kidnapping is a national issue that is above politics and we need to protect the children, parents and even officials at the school from violence,” Moonilal said in a statement to the media.

Moonilal said while police investigators have been working diligently on the matter, there has been no meaningful breakthrough.

“I urge law enforcement officers to redouble their efforts to resolve this serious crime. I feel the pain and anguish of the family, including their two children, even more intensely following my visit with them on Tuesday.

The Sookdeo’s are my constituents of Oropouche East. I also share similar deep concerns with relatives of other kidnap victims,” he said.