– but through a most unfortunate mishap he failed to make it
ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD Shemar Success, who died by drowning in the vicinity of the Kingston Seawall, just five days after writing the National Grade Six Assessment Examinations in April, has been named amongst the nation’s top performers at the examination. Success, a student of Success Elementary School, West Ruimveldt, secured 524 marks, just two marks short of qualifying for a place at Queen’s College, but qualified for a place at Bishop’s High School.  His grades scored were as follows:  Maths – 140; English – 125; SST – 131; SC1 -128; giving a total of 524 marks.
Unfortunately however, Shemar would be unable to take up his place at Bishop’s, since his life was coldly snuffed out on April 10, during an outing to the seawalls with friends. Until today, the circumstances surrounding his demise remain shrouded in mystery.
His father Roy Success, yesterday, told the Guyana Chronicle he learnt from the person who had taken the children out to the seawalls, that he was walking in the water and suddenly went down.
On the ill-fated day, the child was out in the family’s yard, flying his kite, when a neighbour approached his overseas based aunt, visiting Guyana, and sought permission to take him, along with others to the National Park. But instead of going to the park, they ended up at the seawalls and Shemar perished in the murky waters.
A search and rescue team from the Coast Guard was deployed to look for his body, and two days later spotted him, but for whatever reason, did not manage to bring his body to shore. Subsequent searches by the Police Marine Corps resulted in the body being retrieved and he was given a decent burial.  He was spotted in the Demerara River, aback of Providence, by a child who was kite-flying and the Police Marine Corps responded to the call and brought the body in.
His deeply distraught father Roy, tried hard to be strong yesterday as he related to this newspaper, that his son, throughout this preparation maintained that he wanted to be placed at Queens’ College or Bishop’s High School, and worked resolutely towards that. “But the sad part of it is that even though he got his wish, he’s nowhere around to take it up … and  that is what is hard,” his father said, choking on his words.
“I knew he was going to make it.  He had the potential,” the elder Success stressed repeatedly.   He said the child’s dream was to one day become a lawyer.
Even though Shemar had three other siblings, he was Roy Success’ only child and was the pride and joy of his heart. The child was attending his uncle, Wilfred’s Success’s School, with a reputation for great achievement, but his father said he (Roy) made a personal contribution towards ensuring he studied in a systematic way so as to get good results. “When preparing for the exam, I would take him to my home around 6:30 and we study until 9.30 p.m., then I’d take him home to his mother, Karten Maynard. I saw him being in the top 100. I knew he had the potential,” Roy said. It turned out that Shemar ranked about 21st.
Success said it was a very emotional moment yesterday, as his uncle read out the results to the parents and students at school. When he read his nephew’s (Shemar’s) results, he, the Principal broke down and so did others in the school. It was like opening the wound all over again.
Acknowledging that his uncle, Wilfred Success, the Managing Director of the School worked very hard with his students, Roy said he would like to express gratitude to him and the teaching staff of the school. “We thank him for his hard work, and may his good work continue at the school. The bereaved father is also urging the students to continue striving for excellence. His advice to them is:  “Success is not a destination, it is a journey and so you have to continue that journey… keep going all the time.”
In concluding, he would like to thank the Marine ranks who retrieved his son’s body, and all others who in any way offered support.