GIVE US BACK OUR SON

Marilyn Persad, mother of kidnapped 10-year-old Vijay Persad, her face wet with tears, yesterday made an emotional plea to her son’s kidnappers and begged them to, “give me back my son... he is sick and in need of medication.” Vijay was snatched 13 days ago by four bandits after they failed to gain entry into the boy’s father’s Princes Town businessplace. A ransom which was subsequently made for Vijay’s safe release, was increased from $300,000 to $500,000. Up to late yesterday neither the Anti-Kidnapping Squad nor Vijay’s worried parents knew of his whereabouts. At a hastily arranged press conference held at Vijay’s home yesterday, his parents Marilyn and Ragkummar issued an appeal to the kidnappers, saying he needed medication since he was asthmatic. The worried parents also announced a $20,000 reward to anyone who could bring their child’s kidnappers to justice and/or find the boy.

The worried family was visited by San Fernando Mayor Ian Atherly yesterday as well as Mike and Isabella Singh — grandparents of former kidnap victim Saada Singh. The Singhs comforted the Persads at their Indian Walk, Moruga home yesterday. As Vijay’s parents sat with the media, they struggled to keep themselves composed. Pain, grief and worry could clearly be seen on the faces of the kidnapped boy’s parents, particularly Marilyn, who appeared to be in a daze throughout the interview.   Vijay’s eight-year-old brother Sanjay also sent a message for him (Vijay) saying, “I want to tell Vijay, I love and miss him. I praying for him all the time.” As the young boy said these words, tears welled up in his mother’s eyes, while father Ragkummar covered his face with his hands. “We miss you... the entire family, your brother and sisters missing you and we want you home,” Marilyn said in a barely audible tone. She again begged, “He needs to get Ventolin. I really want him to come home now.”

She said it was likely her son would have already had an asthma attack. The worried man said his wife was struggling to cope with the kidnapping and would get up in the night crying out for Vijay. Describing her son as an intelligent and a good child, Marilyn said Vijay won a trophy after placing first in the South East Education District Mental Mathematics Marathon. On Thursday, Vijay’s cousin also won a trophy from his school for topping the Maths marathon. Atherly called on social services to provide professional help to kidnap victims and their families. Saada’s grandfather Mike Singh made an appeal to citizens to keep in contact with police and be on the lookout for “any funny movements or strange happenings.” Saying he knew what the Persad family was going through, Singh told them to keep faith in God that Vijay would return home unharmed. He said Saada was still recovering from her ordeal and was still not herself. Sgt Nazoor Hosein is leading the investigation into the kidnapping.