In an effort to secure a school transfer for her son, Nadia Singh, accompanied by former Naparima MP Nizam Baksh, visited the Victoria Education District in San Fernando yesterday to meet school supervisors.
Singh, a widow, doesn’t know whether the transfer was approved and is worried that every passing day is a missed opportunity for his education.
“I don’t want my son to miss out on his education. We are hoping that with Mr Baksh’s help, something will be done,” she said.
Baksh, who served as an MP for 19 years, has been a pillar of support for the Singh family, ever since their home was destroyed by a landslip in 2013.
“I have known Mr Baksh for years. Even before my husband passed away in 2016, Mr Baksh has tried to help us in certain situations and now he is here concerning my son, and I appreciate him,” said Singh, who expressed her gratitude to Baksh after he took them to the ministry’s office in his private vehicle.
Her son, Randy, repeated his appeal for a transfer. “Please help me, I really hope to get a transfer to go to school. I want to go to school.”
Baksh said he was deeply moved by the family’s plight.
“I read in the newspaper that they were having major challenges in getting a transfer from La Romain to Barrackpore. This touched my heart, and I decided that I would do whatever I could to help this child get a transfer. I brought them here to the San Fernando office to get some advice on how we can get this child transferred as soon as possible,” he said.
However, school supervisors were in a meeting when the family arrived at the offic, so they were given a phone number to contact the Education Ministry’s head office. Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsy-Dolly was contacted for comment but has not yet responded.
The Singh family has faced a series of tragedies since 2013. Their home collapsed due to a landslip and then sole breadwinner, Kimchand Singh, drowned in Moruga, leaving Nadia to care for their four children, Sasha, Darian, Gaitri and Randy.
The family’s legal case against WASA for the loss of their home fell apart, leaving them financially destitute and Nadia supports the family by cleaning other people’s homes. On her modest income, she rents a wooden house next to the ruins of their home.
Anyone wanting to help the family can call 316-8990.
—Radhica De Silva
