IT was a very emotional scene yesterday when parents, siblings, other relatives and friends paid their final respects to the four family members who perished one week ago while performing a religious rite.Yesterday, the bodies of Annapina Persaud, 9; Billy Narine, 12; Ravin Persaud, 15; and Radika Persaud, 53, were cremated at the Ruimzeight Cremation Site, at Ruimzeight, West Coast Demerara.

Relatives and other mourners fought to hold back the tears as the ceremonies were conducted in accordance with Hindu tradition.

On Monday last, the Vergenoegen family was plunged into deep mourning as the bodies of four family members were fished out of the Atlantic Ocean off Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo, hours after they had gone there to perform a one-year ritual for another member of the family who died last year.

On Tuesday, Dularie Bhigman, sister-in-law of Radika Persaud, and aunt of the three deceased children, said she went to Radika’s house on the day of the tragedy but she was getting ready to leave to go to the seaside.
Radika reportedly asked Bhigman not to go anywhere, since she would be returning shortly; she left for the seaside, a short distance away, with her niece, nephew and son.
Bhigman said that when night set in and they hadn’t returned, she sent her daughter to look for the missing four, since it was unusual for them to be down at ‘the seaside’ so late.
She said it was only after going to the seaside herself in search of them, that she saw bubbles coming from the water, followed by her nephew’s lifeless body. The others were recovered shortly thereafter.

The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and BK International have provided the family with financial assistance to ensure that the four received a decent send-off. (By Leroy Smith)