By Fareeza Haniff
Co-Chair of SASOD, Joel Earl Simpson told iNews during a telephone interview that he received a call at 4:00 hrs from a mutual friend informing him that Nicholson died at the hospital.
According to Simpson, the friend said that Nicholson called him at around 2:10 hrs, saying she needs to go to the hospital, and that he would be faster than a taxi.
On his way to the hospital with Nicholson and her boyfriend in the car, she revealed that she drank ten Carbon Tablets. When questioned by iNews, Simpson revealed that Nicholson complained to him last Monday (October 19) that she was being physically abused by her boyfriend, whom she’s been with for approximately a year.
iNews understands that they also lived together at D’Aguiar Park, East Bank Demerara. The boyfriend is assisting police in their investigations, iNews was told. Nicholson has two children, who live in Canada with their father.
On March 12, 2014, the United States Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Bryan Hunt hosted a reception in honor of Nicholson, who was the 2014 recipient of the U.S. Embassy’s International Woman of Courage Award.
Nicholson was the Country Coordinator for Caribbean Vulnerable Communities/PANCAP Global Fund Round 9. She was a Guyanese human rights advocate and sat on the Board of Trustees for SASOD.
Her advocacy with the government, politicians and the UN Human Rights Committee secured a commitment from the Government to initiate a national dialogue on the decriminalization of LGBT activities. She was also involved in several other local, regional and international advocacy activities that have led to change for affected persons.
Whether suicide or homocide, both are unwarranted.
Social, spiritual, economic, emotional intervention much needed. All done with compassion.
There is still much work to be done to deal with the effect of suicide prevention.