Cunupia murder victim laid to rest

Ravello, 31, along with Christopher Nelson, 48; Renald “Rah”Elie, 46, and Gerald “Tall Man” Gibson, 52, were gunned down last Friday evening as they played dominoes outside a neighbourhood parlour on Kernaham Trace, Chin Chin Road, Cunupia.

Heavy rains and muddy streets yesterday were not enough to deter scores of villagers from saying goodbye to the former community barber and tailor.

Member of Parliament for Caroni East, Ganga Singh, visited the Ravello family prior to the funeral service yesterday. He told Newsday, “A tragedy has struck the area and caused a cloud of doom to settle over the community.”

The slain man’s uncle, Lenus “Pink Eye” Ravello said his brother, (Willard’s father) lived in Venezuela and was a drummer for a music band.

He said his brother, who was also a barber and tailor, was thrown in jail for “disturbing the peace” with his music on the streets.

After being released from prison, Ravello said, his brother was gunned down on the streets of Venezuela. His murder remains unsolved.

Ravello said Willard lived with him throughout his teenage years, but returned to Cunupia in 1994 to be closer to his siblings.

“Willard was an ace tailor and the criminals who killed him are heartless,” he said.

Ravello (L) who is also a musician with the Lara Brothers Parang group and the Panjammers Steel Orchestra, sent a message to the nation, stating, “This is already unfortunate. We should all assist in rebuilding broken down communities.”

In his homily, Imam Mustapha Khan of the Las Lomas Masjid said Ravello was a gem and the village of Kernaham Trace had suffered a great loss with his death.

Khan said those who had planned to seek revenge for Ravello’s murder should leave the whole matter in the hands of the Almighty, since “revenge was in the hands of God.”

He said the community should concentrate on joining together and provide comfort and strength for the families who had lost loved ones at the hands of criminals last Friday evening.

Khan encouraged relatives and friends to allow the “relevant authorities to solve the murders since it was their duty to deal with crime.

The Commissioner of Police has already promised to look into the case and bring about resolution,” he said.

The funeral of Christopher Nelson is carded for today at Allens Funeral Home, Arima, at 11am. Renald Elie and Gerald Gibson will be given one funeral service at the St James Cinerary, St James, tomorrow at noon.