Tobago Correspondent
The mother of the Tobago man, who was found beheaded in Blanchisseuse on Thursday, said she had begged her son to return home after he left the island in search of job opportunities in Trinidad.
But weeks before he was expected to move back to the island, 19-year-old Armando Kenneth of Bethel was found dead around 12.18 pm at Damien’s Bay.
The decapitated body had Armando’s name tattooed on the left forearm with another tattoo “Stay paranoid trust no one” on the right side of the lower stomach.
Speaking to Guardian Media yesterday morning, Desiree Kenneth said while she was grieving, she had already forgiven those responsible for ending her son’s life. She said she chose to move forward.
“I have to forgive and move on,” she said.
She further lamented she had repeatedly urged her son to come back to Tobago if he was struggling in Trinidad.
She said his father would ask her if she was waiting for him to be killed in Trinidad before doing more to get him to return home.
Both parents were concerned for his safety, considering the crime situation in Trinidad.
Kenneth said, “His father used to tell me, ‘You go wait until they kill your son.’
“He was back and forth. I used to say, ‘Boy, come home, come home. If you can’t make it down there, come home. He used to say, ‘Yes, Mammy, I go (sic) come home.’”
“He was supposed to come home month end here.”
But she said Amando was determined to find a job in Trinidad.
While she lamented the worsening crime situation, she said she was holding onto her faith that God will bring justice and give her strength.
“I have to cope, you know. In Jesus’ name, I have to cope and stay strong.”
The grieving mother said the last time she saw her son was on Monday. She hugged him and told him to be safe before he left Tobago.
“He went down back (to Trinidad) on Monday. He said, ‘Mommy, I’m leaving,’ and I told him to be safe. He give me a hug and I didn’t know that would be the last I would see my son. On Tuesday I called him, and he said he reached down to Trinidad safe.”
She described her only child as a jovial person, who loved to dress up. She said his family, close friends and the community were devastated.
Police said Armando had reported that he was robbed to officers of the Santa Cruz Police Station on Wednesday afternoon. He was killed hours after the incident occurred.
His mother said she was not aware of the robbery and allegations that he may have been involved in criminal activities.
Despite the Kenneth family coming forward, police say the decapitated body was still being officially described as being a ‘John Doe’ until conclusive identification can be made at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, on Monday.
Region Two Homicide investigators are continuing enquiries.