Rachel’s mom at vigil for Videsh

For 40 minutes on Friday evening, the concerned group of family, friends and neighbours of the dead boy, marched through Malabar with prayers being offered and a tree sapling planted in Videsh’s memory.

A nearby plaque read, “This Lignum Vitae Tree (Latin for ‘The Tree of Life’) is planted in loving memory of those who have gone before us.

May its branches provide shelter and its roots be forever watered with peace and love.” Neighbour Angani Akow said Videsh was truly loved in the community.

“Everybody knew this boy. He was really, really exceptional.

Everybody is aunty and everybody is uncle.

Anything you are doing, he would say ‘I could help? I could do anything?’ “He was only 13 but look at the lives he touched (in reference to the vigil’s huge turnout). He was everybody’s son.” Videsh’s cousin, Samantha Rattan, led all present in one minute of silence to remember her relative as “one incredible little boy.” Rattan thanked all present for supporting the family through their most difficult experience. The vigil ended with all singing the song, Let There be Peace On Earth.

Videsh’s parents did not talk to the media.

Nicholas led a group of her own community wearing jerseys commemorating her own murdered daughter, Rachel.

She told Sunday Newsday, “I came today because I know what this mother is going through. I went through the same thing. I came to give support.” Asked how she felt at the vigil, she said, “It has re-opened my pain but at least they have held somebody for the Malabar killings.

I’m still waiting on the police to find out who did this to my daughter. They (Videsh’s family) get closure but I am still waiting. I want to talk to the mom but she is busy.” Sunday Newsday asked if she thinks things will get better in TT, Nicholas replied, “No. I think things will get worst.

The only thing that will help in this situation is God.

“Everybody has to turn to prayers and God. That’s the only thing. It will never get better. It will get worse.

It is end times, a terrible time to live in. She was my one and only child. This is pain that doesn’t ever go away. I really hope that God, when he is ready, could reveal who did this to Rachel. I need some closure, too - the family, friends and everybody.” Asked about the police’s progress on the case, she said, “I want to believe the police are doing their work but I wish they could make a breakthrough.” Saying she has shown a lot of patience, Nicholas lamented DNA tests on Rachel’s body have not yet returned to TT.