Saada celebrates birthday

THIS country’s youngest ever kidnap victim, Saada Singh, was the centre of attention and was feted by family and friends when she celebrated her fourth birthday yesterday, first with a private thanksgiving ceremony at her Vistabella home and then a party at the San Fernando Yacht Club. Little Saada, who was thrust into national prominence when she was kidnapped outside her kindergarten school — Giselle’s Montessori — last week Thursday, spent her birthday being showered with love and gifts from her family and well-wishers. “People have been sending her gifts since Sunday. People we don’t even know are bringing gifts,” Saada’s mother Ria told Newsday as she held the child in her arms. 

Saada’s father Sean said as soon as she awoke she excitedly began asking for her birthday presents. Ria added that Saada received “a lot of Barbie dolls” including the Barbie character cake she had asked for, a Barbie townhouse from her parents and a Barbie castle from her paternal grandmother Isabella Singh. Maternal grandmother Doll Mohammed was not to be left out as she gave Saada jewelry. Mohammed told Newsday, “We feel happy that Saada is back, we are having a party to rejoice.”

Activities at Saada’s home began at 10 am with an intimate thanksgiving prayer service conducted by Monsignor Christian Pereira, which was attended by immediate family, close friends and Deoraj Ragoonathsingh — the KFC delivery man who rescued Saada after finding her wandering on a street in Siparia last Saturday. Ragoonathsingh, Ria said, has been visiting Saada everyday since he rescued her at Murray Trace in Siparia. Speaking briefly with reporters, as she snuggled against her father Sean, Saada stated clearly, “I don’t want to go back to that school!” and her parents indicated their intentions of having Saada home-schooled.