Jesse Ramdeo
Senior Reporter
Jesse.ramdeo@cnc3.co.tt
A friend of murdered Moruga businessman Enrico Guerra and his five-year-old daughter Anika, yesterday called on the community to stand up against the criminal element in their honour.
The call was made by Quincy Jones, a childhood friend of Enrico, as he delivered a tribute during the funeral at the family’s St Mary’s Village, Moruga home.
Jones said in recent times, he had been forced to attend too many funeral services of close friends whose lives were taken away by murderers.
As he recounted Enrico’s genuine personality and unwavering belief in righteousness, he said the time had come for people to push back against crime.
“I also want to say that each and everyone who feeling this pain now, I am happy for that, I am happy for the fact we are still human to feel. We have become numb to losing our loved ones, to the point where it being a murder every three months to a three or four murders a day,” Jones said.
“Transfer that sorrow into a movement, a movement to stand up. Don’t sit down and take this and be against the senseless killings and losing of lives. We could make a difference if we stand up.”
Villager Garth Hamilton meanwhile said it was important to support the grieving family and echoed calls for an end to the spate of killings throughout the country.
“Don’t make this a nine-day wonder, St Mary’s. When we are dressing our little ones for school, let us remember there was a little girl who also had her school uniform and she couldn’t put it on for school next week.” Hamilton said disagreements must instead be settled like they used to in days gone by, either on the football field or cricket pitch. Mourners were also moved to tears when a teacher from Blooming Scholars Kindergarten read aloud a letter prepared by one of Anika’s best friends.
It read: “Hi Anika, thank you for being my best friend, I will miss you a lot. Hope you have lots of fun in heaven with uncle Rico and the other angels. I know we will see again someday in heaven and when I see you I will hug you and say hello my friend.” Onicka Gilbert, who delivered Anika’s eulogy, said little Anika’s positivity radiated in everyone’s life she touched.
“Her name will be remembered, it will not be another murder, it will not just be another death. Anika Amelia Guerra, born August 13, 2019, to Enrico Guerra and Anastacia Hamilton, her light will continue to shine, and her life will live on.”
In delivering her son’s eulogy, Hesper Ali-Darsoo fought back the tears as she remembered Enrico’s fun-loving and bubbly personality which was always on display. She said her family members were God-fearing and not gangsters, adding this tragedy will not bend their faith.
“When we live and we see people like Rico and Anika taken away from us, you get angry and hurt but you know what, God doesn’t make mistakes. Sometimes the devil feels the only way to break you is use who you love and what you love, but he has to come really good. This is only the beginning.”
Ali-Darsoo said the devil appeared to be busy and pleaded with citizens to unite.
“I lived my life for my children to bury me, look I have to watch my son pull up in a dead hearse because some delinquent, evil- minded person or animal would do something like this, and then want to sit-down and talk with he partners. We are not no badman, we are a praying family.”
Earlier, motorcyclists leading a music truck signalled the emotional arrival of Enrico and his daughter for a final time back to their home along Poui Road, St Mary’s Village.
Ali-Darsoo was among the first to arrive at the hearse bearing the single coffin of her son and granddaughter, where her voice rang out in anguish.
Standing by to lend support to the grieving family members were scores of villagers donning t-shirts with the image of Enrico and Anika.
Enrico and Anika were later buried at the Rochard Douglas Road Public Cemetery.