Pastor: We are not in control

Ricardo, a Form Three student of St Stephen’s College, Princes Town, and Raphael a Form Four student of Barrackpore West Secondary School both drowned at Balandra Bay during a family outing. While Ricardo’s body was discovered shortly after the disappeared in the choppy waters, Raphael’s body only surfaced on Tuesday. Yesterday, Raphael’s white casket remained closed and a large framed photo placed on top of it during the funeral service at the family’s home at Cunjal Road, Barrackpore. Like they were inseparable in life, same way it was in death - their caskets lying side by side. There were no dry eyes among the large crowd of mourners that spilled out into the road.Scores of weeping students along with their teachers joined a wide cross section of the community in a highly emotional farewell to the well-loved teenagers. Pastor Junior Clarke of the Church of Christ, Princes Town officiated at the service .

He reminded mourners: “We are not in control of certain areas of our lives and one of the areas is death. You did not bargain with God to come into this world, God created you and placed you into this world and that same God has the right and he will take back his life, this soul and we cannot do nothing about that.” He added: “We hurt, we moan, we groan, we cry, but we cannot do nothing, absolutely nothing, because God is in control. It is a wake up call, but all of us are awake at this time, awake until when, maybe next week, maybe week after and then we go back to sleep until probably the next funeral that we are called to attend.” Clarke told the family he was unable to give them the answers they wanted. He continued: “But there are messages in what happened and it is God sending us this message and the simple lesson this morning, is do not leave God out of your plan.” As they choked on their tears, one by one students from the respective schools eugolised the boys and also paid tribute to them in song .

One of Ricardo’s classmates noted that their squad in class was now one short as he recalled how much Ricardo had been looking forward yesterday’s class party. One of Raphael’s teachers said last week Friday at school, he had brought peace between two rival gangs at the school .

“Two very nice young men,” she said .

Amanda Rambarran asked those present not to hate the sea for what happened to her cousins. Grieving parents Pramchan and Jacqueline remained inside a room druing the service. The Rambaran boys were later cremated at the Shore of Peace Mosquito Creek, La Romaine .