GPHC staff shocked at suspected suicide of supervisor
By Shirley Thomas

Dead is Vincent Chung, 36, of 203 Cul-D-Sac, “BB” Eccles New Scheme, East Bank Demerara.

Chung, a Supervisor at the Materials Management Unit of the GPHC, was rushed to the Emergency Unit around 12:45h and was pronounced dead on arrival, after apparently taking a poisonous substance at his home.

His mother-in-law, known as “Mamoo”, who made the discovery and assisted in getting the dying man out of the home, was later rushed to the hospital after she too began vomiting and complaining of burning in the mouth and throat. Relatives said her hand might have come in contact with the poisonous substance and she may have put it in her mouth.

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They said that while Chung was at home earlier in the morning, it did not appear as though anything was wrong. He played music and was singing, and played with his children.

He called out to the neighbours at the back, and they too, never knew that something was amiss.

Then he went into his room and did not come back out.

His mother-in-law said that around 12:20h, when his youngest son returned home from school, he went into the room and thought his father to be sleeping. He tried waking him and when he did not respond the child called out to his grandmother.

On entering the room, she said she saw something white oozing from Chung’s mouth. On the bed, he also had photographs of himself, wife and the children. Some of them were reportedly smeared with the poisonous substance.

The mother-in-law said she raised an alarm and he was taken to the hospital.

Chung reportedly shared a wonderful relationship with his wife Nalini and three children, aged 5-11, until things took a turn recently. He was said to have been experiencing domestic problems at the time of his death.

It is understood that over the last few weeks he seemed unusually troubled, but said very little.

His Departmental Manager said that on Monday Chung reported for work, and that was the last day they saw him.

Manager of the Materials Management Unit, Mr. Byro Persaud, said Chung was hardworking and dedicated, always willing to go the extra mile. He said Chung was well liked by staff at the hospital and will be sadly missed.

Chief Executive Officer of the GPHC, Mr. Michael Khan who, on learning of the employee’s death, immediately went over to the Emergency Unit, was in deep shock.

Noting that any unexpected death is usually hard to accept, Khan added that in the case of a loyal and dedicated employee as Chung, it is doubly hard.

“We at the hospital will certainly miss him.”
Police are investigating.