Senior Mutlimedia Journalist
Thirty-nine days after she was shot dead by a stray bullet in her Spring Village, Valsayn home, 51-year-old Leelawatie Lana Sahadeo was fondly remembered in a memorial service yesterday.
Given the nature of her death, there were ample reasons for the mood to be sombre. Instead, there were hugs, smiles and warm discussions as Sahadeo would have wanted it. Before the service at the St Augustine South Community Centre began, laminated bookmarks with her picture, the logo of her food business and a written piece called a ‘Life Well Lived’ were handed out.
“A life well lived is a precious gift of hope and strength and grace from someone who has made our world a brighter, better place,” the bookmark read. They were not just words but reflected truly what Sahadeo meant to her loved ones. There was even a doubles man present outside the main entrance, serving up hot, fresh bara.
Given her generosity and fondness of food that came as little surprise to those who knew her.
Bishop Perreira, who led the service, described Sahadeo as a genuinely good person; someone who touched the lives of many–strangers and friends alike.
“Her spirit of kindness will never be forgotten … Lana loved people and people loved Lana.
“She was selfless and humble, and no one could work harder than her. Thank you, Lana, for coming into our lives and giving us peace” the bishop said.
The daughter of Sahadeo’s common-law husband, Antonio, said her only regret was that she did not know her longer. As she struggled to keep herself composed, her voice breaking from fighting back tears, she admitted to confiding in Sahadeo, sharing things she did not even tell her parents.
“She was probably the best woman to enter my life. I appreciated how much dad loved her and how much she loved my dad,” Antonio’s daughter said.
It was revealed by those who knew Sahadeo for many years that the businesswoman did not always have reason to be joyous. They said the loss of her husband and business partner, Robin, affected her deeply. But, they said, like she always did, she pushed forward eventually finding happiness again and taking the business to new heights.
Robin’s family also spoke of her highly. Ashram, Robin’s brother, called her a sister, remembering times the family cooked, limed and played all fours.
Sahadeo’s aunt spoke of the joy Antonio brought back into her life. She said Sahadeo was beaming from being in love again.
She said Sahadeo was always special, capable of making the best out of any circumstance.
“Lana had a very, very challenging childhood. She worked very hard to achieve all she did. She made all her friends her family, a blood family she was deprived of.
“It’s very hard for my children who loved her very much. One of them still sleeps with the light on in the night. My electricity bill is going to be very high. Lana promised her that when she dies, she’s going to visit every person she loves, so she’s waiting for Lana to come visit,” her aunt said.
On December 27, Sahadeo was one of four people who were killed in a shooting along the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway. Five men were in a vehicle near the traffic lights at the intersection near the University of the West Indies St Augustine campus when another vehicle pulled up alongside them. The occupants of the second vehicle opened fire. The vehicle with the five men sped off, crashing a short distance away. The armed men chased them, killing three of the men. Alerted by the commotion taking place outside of her home, Sahadeo peeped out of her windows but was shot by a stray bullet, which killed her. The survivor of the attack was a popular Trinibad artiste who had survived another shooting in October.
Sahadeo was one of 576 people murdered in T&T in 2023.
