Accident victim cremated

This is because the wife, Sumintra, 55, was fighting for her life up to yesterday at hospital, having sustained multiple injuries in the said accident.

At the funeral service held at the family’s home at Tarouba Road, Marabella, Matadeen’s nephew Allan Thomas described him as a man who was greatly loved, and who loved greatly. Matadeen, a carpenter and grandfather of four, was also called Vishnu and Dougla.

“He loved all his children and grandchildren. Vishnu was a big fan of the western movies like the Good , the Bad and the Ugly, Hang them High and the Magnificent Seven. But what he loved the most was his family. He was greatly loved and loved greatly,” Thomas told mourners.

Matadeen succumbed to his injuries on Saturday, four days after the accident which occurred while he was driving his Mazda 323 along Naparima-Mayaro Road, Ste Madeleine.

Police investigators said about 7.30 pm last week Wednesday, a Nissan B-15 Sentra, driven by Jameel Braithwaithe, 22, of Palmyra Village, San Fernando, collided head-on with Matadeen’s car.

Matadeen, his wife Sumintra who was a front seat passenger and granddaughter Carline, 19, and Braithwaithe were all rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital where they were treated and warded. Carline and Braithwaithe were subsequently discharged the following day. PC Flavinney of the Ste Madeleine Police Station is continuing investigation.

While delivering the eulogy yesterday, Thomas reminisced that Matadeen learnt carpentry from his (Matadeen’s) father and subsequently became an expert carpenter.

“He played the steelpan and was in a band. It was rumoured that in the 1960’s he had the biggest afro in town. In the 1970’s he met a beautiful young lady not far from here. In 1973 they were married and spent 40 years together as best friends, raising their children and grandchildren,” Thomas noted.

Thomas, who lives abroad, further noted that Matadeen often took his grandson Aiden also called The General in his car throughout Marabella, and spent time with his nieces and nephews.

“He taught me how to butcher a pig during my visits to Trinidad. At the time of his passing he was with Sumintra who always was his best friend, ” Thomas said.

Pundit Shivan Harripersad, who officiated at the funeral service, called for motorists to be more careful on the roadways, and to look out for others.

“Sometimes when we are on the road, we drive for ourselves, but we need to remember that we are driving for other people too on the road .We must be aware to drive for others,” Harripersad said.

Harripersad, of the Tarouba Ashram, had some comforting words for relatives of such victims. He said, “What has to happen has to happen at the end of the day. However we leave this world as an excuse to go to God. We all have to leave the world one day.”

Following the funeral service, Matadeen was cremated at the Shore of Peace Cremation site in La Romaine.