RHONDOR DOWLAT
Senior Reporter
rhondor.dowlat@guardian.co.tt
The funeral for the late Rennie Ramnarine, Dil-e-Nadan's bassist, guitarist and singer will be held on Thursday.
Speaking with the Guardian Media on Tuesday, his brother Raymond said a private service will be held early on Thursday morning, at 7 am at Dass Funeral Home and from 9 am to 11 am the body will be carried to SAPA for viewing.
"We want to leave by 11 am to head down to Mosquito Creek for cremation. But the viewing will take place at SAPA with one or two people coming up to say something," Raymond said.
Days before his death, Rennie sent a strong message to people in the music industry to work together.
Before his passing Rennie commemorated 62 years of Dil-e-Nadan and thanked everyone that kept supporting and believing in their music.
On that same day, the band turned 62, on August 30, Ramnarine also acknowledged that it marked four years since he has been on dialysis.
Ramnarine, who was diagnosed with end stage renal failure passed away peacefully on Monday morning.
However, hours after his passing a video was released on social media from Ramnarine who sent a strong message to artistes in the music/chutney industry to unite for the betterment of the industry.
"Something very important to me, I have been in the music industry since I was 12 years and I have seen so much of pulling, tugging and back stabbing. I want to tell the artistes out there, how you all expect an individual to move forward? To expect the music industry to move forward like this? We have to come together, band together for the betterment of the culture as a whole," Ramnarine said.
"Generally, there is so much we go through in life and it comes down to this that nothing in life doesn't matter anymore. Live good with people and make great memories. People talk about your actions, character and what you do. So, the next thing is a lot of people live by guess," he added.
Ramnarine said in order for the music to reach to a next level, artistes need to "forget the jealousy and envy."
"A man cannot do more than he can do. What sense is there in trying to fight down each other. Produce good music. The happiest moments in my life was not receiving a paycheck because of my music but knowing the impact on people's lives. So, let us come together and make a bigger impact on industry and in people's lives," he said.
Ramnarine, who was lying on a hospital bed at the San Fernando General Hospital at the time of the making of the video, also urged listeners/viewers to not to take their respective parents for granted.
He then shared his own experience, "Every morning I wake up and when my eyes open, I wake up with a smile. I thank God for another day because thousands of people around the world went to sleep and didn't wake up. A lot of people take their parents for granted and if you sit and really think about what a mother had to go through carrying you for nine months and a father working, sweating night and day to mind you. What I don't see is people loving their parents or giving that kind of credit where it is really due. You could have a thousand wives but only one mother."
"My mom, I really don't know how to describe her.
My dad passed away but he made a good life for us. I see that kind of energy that my mother puts towards me in taking care of me as though I am a little baby. I do say to God what I can really do, how can I explain it to my mum for her to really understand how I feel about her," he added as he broke down in tears.