The Ministry of Agriculture will dedicate its new aquaculture hatchery at Mon Repos to slain former minister Satyadeow Sawh.
In a press release, the ministry said today marks the second anniversary of Sawh’s assassination, along with two of his siblings and security guard. The release said “Sash”, as he was fondly called, is sadly missed and his service continues to be an inspiration to the ministry’s staff.
According to the release in 1996, Sawh was appointed to the post of Minister of Fisheries, Crops and Livestock and later, in 2003 his portfolio was expanded to include the wider agriculture ministry. “People knew he loved and cared greatly for them, especially our farmers. And this is why they identified with him,” Minister Robert Persaud said. Sawh was also a Member of Parliament.
Meanwhile, although police had arrested and charged, Jermaine ‘Skinny’ Charles with the assassination of the minister, his siblings and security guard, several other men had been linked with the crime, including dead prison escapee, Troy Dick and the country’s most wanted man, Rondell ’Fineman’ Rawlins. Police have been unable to arrest the other suspects although wanted bulletins with rewards have been offered.
Reports were that the Sawh’s wife, Sattie and his brother, Omprakash, were in the kitchen when they saw a masked gunman looking at them through the window. It was around 12:15 on the morning of April 21. Sattie said she alerted the minister who was in his hammock on the veranda, but before he could have scampered to safety, he was riddled with shots. He collapsed just inside his front door. Sawh’s brother, Omprakash, then hid his sister underneath a bed, but the gunmen found her and after dragging her out shot her in the face.
The gunmen then turned their guns on the minister again and then placed Omprakash on top of Rajpat to execute them both. Omprakash said he had begged the men for his sister’s life and gave them $23,000, a digital camera and a watch. He said he and his brother were praying for their lives, but before the gunmen left they fired another shot at them, killing Rajpat in the process.
