–  as murdered mother, daughter laid to rest

SCORES of persons gathered at the Glasgow New Housing Scheme to pay their last respect to the mother and daughter who were hammered to death by the man who should have protected them.

Some persons travelled from as far as Crabwood Creek, on the easternmost end of the County of Berbice, to attend the double funeral.
Former Regional Vice-Chairman Mr. Bhurpaul Jhagpaul said if only the accused, Jainarine Seeteraam had spoken to someone and gotten advice, he may not have committed such a dastardly act.

Noting that Seeteram’s quiet disposition had everyone fooled, Jhagpaul reminded his audience of the old saying, “Easy snake does bite hot”.
“With this in mind, I feel that women are no longer safe, and so they need to educate and empower themselves so they can walk out safely,” he said.
Nazim S. Hussain, National Coordinating Director of the Caribbean Voice, which is known for its anti-violence advocacy, in a passionate address laid the blame for the heinous attack squarely at the feet of the community which failed to act .

“This community has failed,” Hussain said. “Many heard of incidents, but did nothing. This will continue, but who will be the next victim.

“Let us use what has happened as an ultimate warning to walk away. Sometimes women are prepared for the ultimate; it’s not supposed to be like this. It takes a community to raise a child, and to boost continued spousal relationships,” he emphasized before offering his condolences to the bereaved.
Early into the service, Pandit Gavin Mahadeo told relatives he was at a loss for words whenever he reflected on the tragedy, which has wiped out an entire family except an 11-year-old boy who sat all during the funeral service next to his grandmother and maternal aunts, whilst staring blindly around him.

One of Jainarine Seeteram’s nieces, who spoke on behalf of her relatives, wept uncontrollaby while recalling how shocked they all were shocked at receiving such sad news, particularly since the family never knew of the challenges the deceaseds may have had.

Following other tributes and eulogies, the bodies of Bidamatie, called Kameel, and her married daughter, Surydai Khan, were transported to New Amsterdam, where they were interred at the Stanleytown Cemetery.

Jainarine Seeteram, who committed suicide, will be buried on Monday.
Last Wednesday’s double murder and suicide rocked East Bank Berbice just before10:00hrs, as Jainarine Seeraram, called ‘Radio’ , went berserk, accusing his wife of infidelity and hammering her and their daughter to death before hanging himself under a dilapidated house, about five hundred meters away.

Shortly before the gruesome murder unfolded, the couple’s 11-year-old son, Mahesh Seetram, called Aroon, was watching television, whilst his sister was asleep in a chair on the upper flat of the two-storied house.

His mother was lying in a hammock underneath the house, trying to take a little after attending to a few domestic chores.

The child, who is awaiting the results of the National Grade Six Examinations, recalled hearing his mother say, “Move from here!”

And as he ran downstairs, he saw his father in the act, and barely managed to escape a deadly blow from the hammer as his father attempted to do him in too.
Said the traumatised child: “I evaded him, and instead ran away. But as I ran, I saw my sister, Aniela, running down the stairs. And my father took the hammer and lashed her behind her head. I then ran to my grandmother’s house telling her what happened.”
Following the assault, his sister was rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival, while their mother was discovered dead in the hammock under the couple’s house. Their father was found hanging at an unoccupied house some 500 meters away.