Berbicians bury their dead
‘All I want is peace in the country’, begs widow
By Samantha Alleyne
Stabroek News
October 5, 2002
Thousands of Berbicians walked in silence to the Number 66 cemetery yesterday to bury the two men gunned down outside Buxton last Friday. Many later called on the government and the PNC/R to come together and halt the brutal crime wave.
44-year-old Seeram Tomdass of Number 72 Village and 63-year Cecil Sadeo called “Creature” also of Number 72 Village were shot and killed while driving through Buxton on their way to the airport. As they marched, yesterday mourners said the procession was as much an expression of their disgust at the upsurge of crime in the country. At the home of Tomdass, his widow Anita and their children Debbie, Devi and Kevin were lost for words over the man’s sudden and brutal death. The mourning family kept asking why he had to die under such circumstances when he was just an honest, hardworking man who lived for his family.
His wife recalled that the last thing Tomdass had told her before he left was to close the doors and be careful. She said that he should have given himself the same advice. He had only purchased the car he was killed in the Tuesday before and had hoped that it would have helped him better provide for his family. Many at his home felt that the government should do more at Buxton. “While it must be admitted that some action has been taken it is obvious that it is not enough since almost everyday persons are being murdered and robbed. Today could be me and the next day you,” one resident said. Many were too disgusted to speak on the subject stating that what they had to say would not make a difference. “We feel really hurt over his death. He did not deserve to die like that,” one of Tomdass’ daughters said.
At the home of Sadeo, which is a stone’s throw away from his slain colleague, his wife Deowantie said she still could not come to grips with the fact that her husband is dead.
The grieving woman recalled that she had prepared her husband’s clothes for him to travel to the airport with his relatives. “I woulda never believe that he woulda never come back alive,” the woman said. She added that while she had read and heard about the crime situation in the country, she thought that they were removed from all the happenings and would have never imagined that her husband would have been shot and killed at Buxton. She said that she is not against anyone even though her husband was murdered. All that she hoped for was peace in the country. “All I want is peace in the country and let tings like dis na happen,” the woman said. Her son Hemraj questioned why the bodies of the two men had to remain in Buxton hours after the incident. “How can two persons be shot and remain on the road hours after, even though the Vigilance Police Station is right around the corner?” He lamented that the two men were left to lie in the car like dogs.
He expressed the opinion that maybe if they were taken to the hospital soon after, they might have still been alive. He called on the government to address the crime situation more seriously and pointed out that while the government had borne the funeral expenses for both men they would not look after the family.
He thinks more funds should be allocated for crime fighting, adding that it makes no sense citizens continuing to eat and live when everyday someone is being murdered and those alive continue to live in fear.
The entire stretch between the two villages, where the men had lived and where they were buried was engulfed in a solemn atmosphere yesterday as a community mourned. In solidarity most business places closed their doors for the funeral and joined the procession. Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy and other government officials were in attendance.