Slain teen laid to rest

Nine others — seven youths and two adults — were injured in the incident. The group included five teenagers, a six-year-old girl, pan side manager Wendell Bowen and his common-law wife Peggy Fortune.

Simon’s funeral took place yesterday at the Mt Zion Spiritual Baptist Church where members of the pan fraternity and schoolmates from the Brazil High School paid their last respects.

Nancis asked that Pan Trinbago pay tribute to Simon, as this form of attack on the national instrument should not be ignored.

Nancis received additional support from Pan Trinbago president Patrick Arnold, who said he believed that the attack at the panyard could have a negative impact on the steelpan. "For many years now the panyard has been the safest place where parents would send their children to stay away from crime and other illegal activities. Parents might now find it hard to allow their children to play pan because of this incident," Arnold said.

Member of Parliament for the area, Penelope Beckles, acknowledged that the Pinto Road community is still angered by the incident, but assured family members that the impression that illegal activities were taking place at the Simple Song panyard was untrue.

Beckles told the parents of the nine children who survived the shooting that medication would be taken care of by the Ministry of Health, and free counselling will be provided for the children and two adults at Child Guidance Clinic at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) beginning from tomorrow.

In his homily, Bishop Rodney Thomas said it was a shame that the children of Pinto Road and environs were attacked in the panyard, the same panyard where they tried to keep away from crime in order to uplift their community. Bishop Thomas warned the community not to take vengeance for the act, but to forgive the man who committed such a wicked deed.

In the eulogy, read by Sr Sue Ann Patrick, Simon was described as an intelligent, obedient child who loved her culture.

Simon’s classmates recalled her as a punctual person who loved to comb her hair, and were happy that she died doing something she loved — playing the steelpan. Simon’s father, Leslie Simon, told Newsday he is begging for justice for those who are still alive, and is pleading for the Government to deal with the crime situation.

"This is our national instrument, and if our children have to get gunned down to play the steelpan then it is a waste of time that it is our national instrument. Is love they love the pan, that is how my daughter died — playing pan.

The children were in the panyard which the Government gave them through Pan Trinbago, and if the children not safe in the pan tent, let the children stay in their parent’s house," said Simon.

Simon was taken to the D’Abadie Public Cemetery for burial.