‘We’re surrounded by monsters’

Addressing mourners at funeral service at the house of mourning in Roystonia, Couva Rev Ragnauth said the world has now become a dark and gloomy place and the hearts of many including himself are now broken.

“Our hearts are broken with this tragic news, but God is with us and He will never leave or forsake us. In times like this the Lord will give us light, but we are really living in dark times, really dark times,” Ragnauth stressed. He called on persons to be good examples and allow their light to shine in such times of darkness.

Adding he said that his hope and prayer is that justice is served in Beephan’s murder. “No matter how uncertain life is, God gives us light and hope. We need to shine our light brightly to take away the darkness and hatred in this world.

We need to love our neighbours as we love ourselves. We also must remember that in times like these, the Lord will give us strength,” Ragnauth said.

Beephan’s decomposed body, still clad in school uniform was found in a drain behind his school, the Waterloo Secondary located at Raymond Jurawan Street off the Waterloo Main Road in Carapichaima on Monday last.

“It is a difficult pain to bear, parents are not accustomed to burying their children. It is expected that children bury their parents. It is a tragic loss,” Garcia told mourners.

He said that as a parent who has also lost a child, he understands the pain of such tragedy.

Years ago, Garcia said his son died and he too experienced the heartache of burying a child. “It’s a feeling of great sadness in this unfortunate situation to pay tribute to a child whose life has been snuffed out. It was with great sadness when we at the Ministry received the news.

“A parent expects that when they send their child to school that they would be there safe and return safe. Parents are not expected to bury their child but the other way around,” he said. As a result of such circumstances, the pain is increased for parents. Garcia said his ministry was doing everything possible to ensure that children receive an education in a peaceful and safe environment.

An autopsy showed the Form Four student had injuries to the right side of his face and died from blunt force trauma to the head.

Beephan’s cousin Samantha Seepersad described him as quiet and reserved. Seepersad said that the teenager had the ability to make everyone laugh. Beephan, she said showed affection to all and was fondly called, “Mama’s boy’.