Pundit: Politicians playing games with kids’ livesBy Invera Arjoon Wednesday, August 19 2009
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IN DEEP GRIEF: At left, in pain, Ian Singh places a cricket bat on the coffin bearing the body of his son, Sachin, which was autographed by some membe...
Tears from friends, relatives and strangers alike, flowed freely as young Sachin Singh who was killed in last Saturday’s accident was given an almost royal send off from his home yesterday at Berridge Trace, South Oropouche.
As the body of 12-year-old Sachin laid in his coffin, dressed in a brown and white kurta, scars from the accident showing on his face, relatives told Newsday they would have given just about anything to see his expression, when cricketing heroes – Darren Ganga, Dwayne Bravo, Dave Mohammed, Ravi Rampaul and Darren Bravo — walked in and stood by his coffin, Dinesh Ramdin was also present at the funeral.
The sombre faced cricketers looked on as captain of Trinidad and Tobago team Darren Ganga said “What more can we say Sachin, on behalf of all of the cricketers, Brian and Dwight who are not here right now, we know it was because you were an avid cricket fan that this happened. We are so saddened. We all love you Sachin, rest in peace.”
Sachin’s cricket bat was autographed by the cricketers and then placed in his coffin as the large crowd became emotional when Ian Singh and his wife, Asha Singh, parents of Sachin, broke down sobbing loudly.
Pundit Ashook Maharaj who officiated at the funeral called last Saturday’s accident a disaster. He called on drivers to exercise caution on the roadways.
“Look at how one person has removed the smiles off so many faces,” declared Pundit Ashook.
But it was Pundit Denishwar Maharaj, uncle of deceased Sachin Maharaj, and critically hospitalised Darshan Maharaj who declared “as long as there is life in my body, I will fight for justice for our children. The politicians are playing games with the lives of our children, and this nonsense must stop! So long the breathalyser law was passed where is it? It’s because of the lack of will power on the part of the politicians, it has not been implemented. All hell will break loose if we do not get justice,” he added.
He said while they will allow the police to conduct their investigations, they intend to use all avenues available to them to ensure justice is served.
As he took a minute to speak to Newsday, Maharaj said the funeral of his nephew, Sachin Maharaj, will be kept on hold until his father Mahendra Maharaj is well enough to be discharged from the hospital.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for the area, Chandresh Sharma, said after the last funeral takes place, a massive drive to limit the use of alcohol will be kicked off.
In a press release from the Minister of Legal Affairs, Peter Taylor, who took part in last Saturday’s charity event “ Balls of Fire” at the Queens Park Oval, sent his condolences to the families of the accident victims, who lost their lives at Mosquito Creek, while on their way to the Oval
The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, in a release, said its members were “really at a loss for words” following the tragic accident. The release read in part: “Our deepest sympathy and condolences go out to the grieving families.” It was signed by Forbes Persaud, CEO and General Secretary.
