By Cecily Asson Saturday, December 17 2011

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Naail Ali...

Nothing is impossible with God. That was how grieving mother Sherima Ali summed up her emotions as she gave thanks to God, hopeful that the remains of her son Naail Ali, who has been missing for the past three years and five months, have finally been found.

Speaking to Newsday amid her tears, Sherima said, “It’s what I have been asking Allah for the past three years and five months. I have been praying hard. I thought it was impossible but God is good and nothing is impossible with him.”

On Thursday, police reported that what are believed to be the remains of the 26-year-old Gasparillo businessman were discovered in a shallow grave off Orange Grove Road South, Tacarigua.

Acting on a tip-off, a contingent of police officers from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) and Region 11, Homicide Bureau made the discovery, the report said. Also discovered were items of clothing thought to belong to Ali. Attempts in October to remove the remains were thwarted when police officers were attacked by bees.

In June 2008, Ali was kidnapped while standing outside the family’s business place at Parforce Road, Gasparillo. A ransom demand was made and it was reported that it was paid but Ali was never released. Sherima was high in praise for the investigators.

She said, “The police never gave up and always kept in touch with the family. They would always call. Many believed they were not working but they did so quietly behind the scenes and worked hard to solve this case. We had the total support of the police.”

She said she wanted to thank all the police officers involved in the three-year long search for her son.

“They are good officers and I thank them.”

When the news reached the family on Thursday, Sherima said it was a bitter sweet moment as while there could finally be closure, it was a stark reality that her son was no more.

“It’s a feeling that I cannot describe,” she told Newsday. She said together with close relatives, spent all Thursday night in prayer.

Naail’s father Aassen Tikki Ali spent the day yesterday at the Forensic Science Centre, St James where tests were conducted on the remains.

He told Newsday that on Tuesday, Ali’s remains will be sent to the United States for further Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) testing.

“So far everything is matching up and we believe that it is the remains of our son.

“On Tuesday, the remains will be sent to US for further tests.”

Aassen said the family remains strong with prayer.