UNC foot soldier Naitram "Alfie" Subiah will not see his dream of unity of the opposition forces become a reality.
Subiah, 63, his wife Maureen, 53, and their 25-year-old daughter Crystal, of Dumfries Road, La Romaine, perished when a truck, belonging to National Flour Mills, crossed the median and hit their Hi-Lux van, shortly after 2 pm yesterday. Police said Subiah, the UNC Oropouche East constituency chairman, was driving on the northbound carriageway when tragedy struck. Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal said Subiah died just as his political dream came to pass. "Alfie craved for Opposition unity," Moonilal said last night. "He kept insisting that the Opposition should unite and he felt strongly that we could not move forward unless we formed a common bond." He said Subiah had been "depressed" over the fractured state of the Opposition, but "he had become heartened over the past few days when we made strides in uniting all the forces." Moonilal said Subiah had been working on his campaign over the past few days.
He said the United National Congress would pay funeral costs for the Subiahs. The truck, driven by Kevon Moses, 32, of Lowplace East Dry River, Laventille, picked up a skid on the wet road, after its right tyre blew. The truck crossed the grass verge and careened head-on into the pick-up, spilling sacks of flour on the roadway. Subiah flew out of the van and crashed into the steel barriers located on top of the Gasparillo Flyover, police said. He died on the spot. His wife also flew out, but Crystal remained trapped in the wrecked van. The lop-sided truck brought traffic to a standstill. Scores of motorists ran out of their vehicles to assist. One such motorist, Roland McIntosh, appealed for people to exercise care on the road. As rain pelted down from the skies, several bystanders brushed away tears. The occupants of the truck–Nigel Kelly, 35, Jeff Lewis, 26, and Moses–were taken by ambulance to San Fernando General Hospital. All three underwent emergency surgery last night and were listed in critical condition.
Subiah's brother-in-law Lincoln Seepaul said Subiah and his wife were heading to get a medical check-up at Lange Park, Chaguanas, when they were killed.
He described Subiah as a committed worker who retired from the Public Service Transport Corporation. Subiah was also a community activist who worked to reduce poverty in the area, he said. Warehouse and distribution manager of National Flour Mills Lincoln Beckles said the truck was heading south to make a delivery. Police said autopsies will be done on all three bodies today at the Forensic Science Centre. Sgt Singh, PC Suliman, Supt Santana and officers of the San Fernando Traffic Department are continuing investigations. Moonilal remained in shock last night, hours after he heard the news that his constituency chairman was dead.
He visited the family's home last night and expressed horror at the tragedy. He said Subiah worked at the constituency office until 1.30 pm yesterday, and then left to pick up his daughter Crystal in Gasparillo. Moonilal said Subiah was heavily involved in the election campaign. "He was a chief soldier of the UNC...He worked at my office for eight years and he was a member of the UNC for 25 years," Moonilal said. He added that when he first took up the post of Oropouche East candidate, Subiah left former MP Trevor Sudama and worked with him. "I didn't know a place in Debe, and Subiah took me around and showed me the constituency," he said.