The procession to Beterverwagting, where the youth was laid to rest, climaxed a week of marches and nightly vigils to honour the memory of Douglas, 18, who was shot dead by Police on Saturday March 1, 2003.

From as early as 08:00 hours yesterday, throngs of citizens converged on the Merriman's Funeral Parlour, Lime and Bent Streets, Werk-en-Rust, and waited to view the body of the young man, who many persons knew as schoolmate, altar server and basketball player.

Ushers and marshals were kept busy trying to maintain order among the crowd, which tended to become impatient at times.

Brief, intermittent drizzles failed to deter the sympathisers, who stood their ground holding umbrellas aloft as they waited to file past the casket.

As the crowd grew larger, Police closed off the Lime and D'Urban Streets end of the road, allowing only vehicles with persons for the funeral to enter that junction. Other persons arrived on scooters and pedal cycles, and on foot. One Rastaman drew quiet chuckles when he turned up with a monkey, which he tied to a tree before joining the line of viewers. Upon emerging from the funeral parlour, the Rastaman untied his pet and quickly went about his business.

Promptly at 11:15 hrs, the viewing session at the parlour was closed and the casket was loaded onto the hearse, and was transported to the South Ruimveldt home of the Douglas family for private viewing.

As Yohance' s mother was escorted out of the funeral home, several women stepped forward to offer words of condolence, which she graciously acknowledged with tears in her eyes.

Later, the body was taken to a packed Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Brickdam, where the public viewing session began at 13:00 hrs. So massive was the turnout, that the family and church officials made a decision to allow persons to continue the viewing process throughout the service. The lines of citizens from every sector of the Guyanese society extended from the churchyard into Hadfield Street and Brickdam.

There were not many dry eyes as Megan Vieira sang, "A Hero Lies in You". Later a musician rendered a soulful interpretation of "Goodbye" on the saxophone, and members of Yohance's basketball team held hands over his casket and gave their customary pre-game shout. Another moving moment was recorded when the players presented his mother, Mrs Eslyn Douglas, with a basketball.

Close friend Andrea Moore recalled that Yohance, who was studying architecture at the University of Guyana, had expressed a desire to design the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York, which were destroyed by terrorists in September 2001. She also had fond memories of his jovial spirit and sense of humour.

He used to say, she recalled, "We both can't be serious. Somebody must have a sense of humour."

Robert Clarke, another close friend, spoke warmly of Yohance's big heart of love. Yohance's High School mates from the class of 2001 could not restrain the tears as, dressed in their graduating gowns, they rendered a song. At the end of their performance, they presented Yohance's graduating gown to his mother.

Head Mistress of St. Joseph's High School, Ms. Ingrid Fung, wrote an open letter to Yohance filled with the remarks of his teachers of the impact he had made on their lives. The letter identified his smile, his laughter, his quiet nature, his love for basketball and his thirst for academic accomplishments.

According Mrs Fung, Yohance left St. Joseph's in a blaze of glory and kept his promise to make every teacher proud. She said she could still recall the moment when it was announced that he had passed with distinction. The response was overwhelming from persons at the function.

Leader of PNC/R Mr. Robert Corbin quoted a few lines from Martin Carter's poem in his opening remarks, "Too soon, too soon the banners drape".

Mr. Corbin noted that all Guyana mourns the loss of the lad. He said the fact that Yohance was cut down in the prime of his youth is a wake-up call to the people of Guyana. He questioned the comfort that a mother can be offered, or the consolation that a father can be given when they lose their son under such circumstances.

"I can find none that can eases the pain," he added.

Yohance's uncle, Mr John Douglas, read the eulogy in which he noted that from a tender age Yohance proved he was "a gift from God".

At the conclusion of the service, a procession of persons, some of foot, others on various forms of transport, began the journey to St. Peters Burial Ground, Beterverwagting, where the body of the slain student was interred.