Drunken row over PM leads to fatal stabbing

Dead is Harrynarine “Broko” Bansee of Lower Couva Road, Preysal. Bansee would have turned 46 on November 18. He was not married and had no children and lived with his parents Shelina Ramsahai, 68, and Jaggernauth Bansee, 70, who uses a wheelchair.

Bansee’s best friend for many years, a 57-year-old CEPEP labourer, has since been detained in connection with the incident. Both men were drinking Puncheon rum inside a house at Sesame Street, Santa Clara Road, Preysal in Couva when it was reported that the political argument became heated.

A police report stated that about 2 am yesterday, PCs Bisnath and Scott of the Couva Police Station responded to a report of a suspected homicide at a house at Sesame Street. Upon arrival they checked and found Bansee lying in the living room on his back with stab wounds to his face and neck. He was bare-footed and clad in a red jersey and long black jeans.

Police said a female relative inside the house at the time informed officers that about 8 pm on Friday, while drinking Puncheon rum, there was a heated argument over the Prime Minister. Rowley was referred to by the “N” word following which Bansee was fatally wounded. Police have since seized a garden fork. It was reported that the body remained on the floor while the suspect went to a bar in the village and informed them what had happened. Police were contacted and the suspect subsequently arrested and taken to the Couva station.

Relative of the suspect, Vashtie Ramkissoon, 51, described Bansee as the man’s best friend. She said she had just taken a shower and had come inside when it happened.

A tearful Ramkissoon said: “I was drinking with them too last night, I wouldn’t lie. The three of us were in here drinking. When the argument start I tell them behave themselves because all that talk and talk cannot be good. I said the two of you are best friends and only arguing, it was one set of rum talk. I tell them with this argument, is either one go or one stay. Well one gone and the next one gone too.” Ramkisssoon said the incident has left her hurt since the three of them shared a close relationship.

“It hurting me bad because they were best friends. Broko was a nice and loving fellow. He didn’t do him anything,” she cried.

She said she had to “run for my life” when the argument got out of control. “I ended up in the road.” She returned to find Bansee dead in the living room.

At Bansee’s home yesterday, his parents were inconsolable.

Bansee’s sister, Nita Nanan, 26, told Sunday Newsday for years her brother, who drank a lot, and the suspect were friends.

She said: “That is his good friend and last night was one night in the longest while he gone there. Something went wrong under the influence of the alcohol.” Nanan said her brother had helped them to clean up for yesterday’s Divali celebrations.

Because of his death the family did not light any deyas last night.

An autopsy is expected to be performed tomorrow at the Forensic Science Centre, St James. Cpl Ramouta