Dameon Belgrave, the 21-year-old man killed on October 5th by a stray bullet from a police weapon was yesterday laid to rest at the Best Cemetery, West Coast Demerara following a thanksgiving service held at the Phoenix Ground Tarmac.
The service was attended by friends and family, as well as a flood of residents from Belgrave’s and his mother’s community. Also in attendance were Alliance For Change Chairman, Nigel Hughes and Members of Parliament, Joseph Harmon and Basil Williams from A Partnership for National Unity. Harmon also served as one of Belgrave’s pall bearers.
Delivering the eulogy, Sebris Christian, grandmother of Belgrave spoke of the life her grandson led. Christian stated that Belgrave had attended the Kingston Nursery School. She said that after graduating from the nursery level he went on to attend Sacred Heart Primary School but was subsequently moved to the Arapaima Primary School. He later attended the St. Ignatius Secondary School after successfully sitting his Common Entrance Examinations.
Belgrave was described as “a very jovial and friendly individual who, because of this demeanour, was able to touch many of the lives that he came into contact with.” It was this nature, along with his outgoing personality, she said, that led him to join various organizations such as Lifeline, Artistes in Direct Support, and the National AIDS Programme Secretariat.
She said that Belgrave had planned to return to Lethem after his birthday on October 6th, 2012 to work on the national census being conducted. Sadly this would never happen, as the surprise pre-birthday treat planned for him by his friends Lloyd and Cleo outside the White Castle Fish Shop turned tragic. Belgrave sustained a single bullet to the chest which damaged his heart and spine, killing him on the spot. The bullet was fired by a police rank in a patrol pursuing a white car with four males. In their effort to evade the police the quartet decided to stop in the crowded square outside of the White Castle Fish Shop. At least one police rank opened fire.
Ranks who were on that patrol were subsequently placed under close arrest and the file has to be evaluated by the Police Complaints Authority and the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions. A member of the deceased’s family related to this newspaper that although the family remains committed to campaigning to ensure justice for the slain man, yesterday was about the celebration of his life and for all the persons he would have touched. “Today is about him, but the struggle will continue”, the relative said.
Belgrave leaves to mourn his mother, Yonette Sulker, stepfather, Denny Sulker, three sisters, two brothers and a nephew.
