Grief and sadness masked the faces of relatives gathered to pay tribute to Tabitha and Juanita Bagot and their three-year-old niece Shemaine Cort who were fatally struck by an alleged drunk driver on the Corentyne road over two weeks ago.
On Wednesday June 11 around 7pm, teenage driver Nakash Persaud allegedly left a trail of horror in his wake fatally striking 19-year-old Tabitha Latoya Bagot, her 16-year-old sister Juanita Malika Bagot and their niece, all of Philippi Farm. He also allegedly struck down Delroy Park, 28, of Kilmarnock, Corentyne and Matthew Mc Bean, 19, of No.35 Village, leaving them nursing serious injuries. He has since been charged and has appeared in court.
APNU Leader David Granger, and Region Six Chairman David Armogan joined thousands of mourners gathered at the service held on Friday in an atmosphere that was heavy with sorrow. As tributes were given, Angela Bagot, the mother and grandmother of the girls along with Shemaine’s father sat beside the white caskets staring at the lifeless bodies.
Tears flowed as tributes to the deceased were paid in all forms, offering words of comfort through song and poems. Students and teachers from the Lower Corentyne Secondary, where Juanita attended, sang and extended their sympathies to the family. Other musical tributes were done by family and church members. Fresh tears flowed when Shemaine’s best friend from Eversham Primary quietly said, “I love you and I would miss you. Rest in peace.”
Throughout the service the officiating minister, Pastor Euwart Bagot encouraged the community of mourners and spectators to practise love and peace.
In extending sympathy on government’s behalf, the regional chairman said, “The sadness of the closely knit community has moved everyone to tears” noting that the accident had cut short the dreams and aspirations of the girls.
“No one has the right to take away the life from anyone. These things happen and we have to believe that there is nothing like untimely death. There is no one who can stop death and all of life we have to prepare for death. Some comes as surprise while others can be predicated. We would all have to grieve at some point,” he said, adding that the way in which the girls “were called away” was devastating.
Meanwhile, the opposition leader lamented that “too many accidents are happening on the Corentyne Public Road.” He hoped that the girls’ death would not be in vain and pleaded with road users to be alert.
Granger then called on the government, the Guyana Police Force and regional administration to put more measures in place to make “our roads safer….There must be lights, traffic signs and effective police patrol and law enforcement” on the roadways, he said to an agreeing crowd. He lamented that the girls were deprived of living the “good Guyanese life, promised to them” and extended sympathy on behalf of the opposition group.
Patrick Findlay, a representative from the Ministry of the Human Services and Social Security offered words of comfort to the family through the Holy Bible. Other public figures such as social activist Mark Benschop and trade unionist Norris Witter also offered words of condolences to the family.
Persaud of Lot 121 Village, Corentyne, appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court to answer to a total of 10 charges stemming from the accidents. He has been
remanded until July 2.
His father Lakeram Persaud expressed regret about the accident to this newspaper. “I am very sorry about what happen. I want to tell the family I am very sorry for their loss. I know the family very well, they are my regular customers,” he said.
