Two weeks after a 62-year-old man of Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice was attacked and killed by a swarm of bees at the burial ground in the village the bees have still not been removed.
Hazim Bacchus was undertaking his job as a gravedigger around 1:30 pm on September 15 when he came under attack from the bees. He was rushed to the Fort Wellington Hospital where he succumbed about 45 minutes later.
His son-in-law, Rakesh Ragbeer told Stabroek News that the incident would not have happened if officials from the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) had acted on several reports that they received.
He said four days later when they went to inter his remains at the burial ground the bees were still there but they had moved to another spot. He lamented that “up to now the NDC or the region nah pay no heed to the bees. Now, my position is that no matter what I do I can’t bring back my father-in-law but I can save someone else from getting them dead. That is why I am pressing the issue.”
According to him, he has not returned to the NDC to remind them about the removal of the bees because “I guess me nah suppose to remind them; that is their job to take care of the community…”
He said an official from a regional office and an organizer of the ruling party visited the family to offer their sympathy.
But he was surprised that no one from the NDC came. He is asking the officials to look into the matter urgently.
Bacchus had finished digging the grave and left but returned shortly after when he came under attack.
About five to six other men were present at the time but were helpless as there was no water nearby.
Ragbeer explained that a farmer subsequently came with a bottle of gasoline which he threw on Bacchus who was at the time covered by the bees from his shoulder up, bringing him a little relief.
Meanwhile, he said persons have to pay $500 for a burial spot. “That price wasn’t fixed by me or anybody else but it was fixed by the NDC so that means that price suits them to maintain the burial ground.”
He lamented that “the NDC is not fixing the burial ground. The bridge is falling apart and people in the community are trying to fix it because they use it.”
