Cedros family grieves over two deaths — mother and son — in 12 days

Relatives of drowned fisherman, Rupert Bissoon, yesterday said they were at least thankful that his body had been recovered as it would assist in giving the family closure to the tragedy that has struck the Cedros family. Bissoon’s sister, Indra Gopaul who was at the Forensic Science Centre to witness her brother’s autopsy, said the entire village was grieving since the incident. But it’s harder for the Bissoon family — they lost their mother just 12 days ago. “My mother died just the other day. Me, Rupert and everybody else was trying to come to terms with that, because it hit we real hard. Now look what gone an’ happen. We ain’t even have time to get over that,” said the grieving woman.

Asked how Bissoon’s wife, Sirdaye Bissoon, had not come to witness the autopsy, Gopaul explained: “Well for one, she couldn’t handle it. We leave her home and she just bawling down the place. I also think she had to visit the clinic, as she is a cancer patient. So she had to go.”
With the lone breadwinner gone, Bissoon’s wife and their ten-year-old daughter are now left with the harsh reality that they have to now fend for themselves. While relatives have agreed that they will all contribute to the funeral expenses, Bissoon’s sister said she was worried how his wife would make it on her own. “She is a cancer patient, who recently had both her breasts removed. I know for a fact that all of her money is exhausted in medication. I don’t know how she’s going to do it,” said Gopaul. Gopaul also called for stronger security measures for fishermen who venture out in the high seas. Gopaul said: “Is a long time now that fishermen asking for protection, and nothing has been done. Time and time again, they going out there and people just robbing them. They need some more security out on the sea.”