I could sleep in peace now

“PRAISE GOD!”

Those were the words of Chandrawtee Rampersad, the mother of murdered Trinidadian Pramatee Celestine, 40, on hearing the news that Celestine’s alleged killer Cyprian Diaz had surrendered to Philadelphia police on Friday evening. However while Chandrawtee is thankful that the alleged killer has given himself up to investigators, she is uncertain when she will travel to the US to bury her daughter. That uncertainty stems from the fact that two of her children whom she wants to accompany her to the US do not have visas or the money to purchase tickets to travel.

Speaking to Sunday Newsday yesterday from her Lopinot home, Chandrawtee said detective Nick McGuffin called her on Friday evening informing her that Diaz had given himself up to police. “Praise God! I could sleep in peace now,” said Chandrawtee in relief. She said since her daughter’s killing she had not slept because she was fearful that the killer “would come here.” Chandrawtee described Pramatee as “very nice and good, who called me twice a week.” She denied reports that Pramatee and her husband Eugene were sharing their home with Diaz or that it was Diaz’s money which was used to start up the restaurant which Pramatee operated in Philadelphia.

Chandrawtee promised to “set the record straight” when she returns from Philadelphia. However her trip abroad has not been finalised because of the situation which her two other children face. Chandrawtee said she wanted her children to accompany her because “I feel I cannot take it on my own to see her (Pramatee) body.” Her daughter Seeta expressed the same sentiments. Seeta told Sunday Newsday she did not have a US visa or the money to buy a ticket to travel. She was pleading for a “sponsor.”