radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Baby Allon Ramdial’s funeral has been postponed to tomorrow, after his death certificate from the Registrar General’s office never made it to Boodoo’s Funeral Home for the completion of final funeral arrangements.
Initially, the funeral was carded for today, but Allon’s mother Christianna Ramdial told Guardian Media yesterday that the funeral will now be held around 1 pm tomorrow. The baby will subsequently be buried at the Ortoire Public Cemetery.
The Ministry of Social Development will be footing the funeral costs.
Yesterday, Ramdial said the past week had been stressful, as she had to go several times to Port-of-Spain to secure the child’s birth paper and other documents.
“Up to now, I haven’t seen his death certificate. I do not know the cause of death or how my child died,” she wept.
Ramdial said she wanted to see Allon yesterday, but his body has been wrapped up in plastic and is sealed.
“His body eaten away. He has no face, no guts, no feet or hands. It’s just his bones, so they have him wrapped up in plastic in the funeral home,” she said.
Ramdial revealed that as a result of this, her son will remain encased in a sealed casket on the day of the funeral, so she will never again be able to see his smiling face.
The distraught 19-year-old mother said she was also distressed by the public backlash she has received since she lost her son. Some people have condemned her for allowing the child to play on the banks of the river.
Ramdial, her common-law husband Carl Murphy and Allon had been living in a storage room at the Ortoire Fishing Facility for the past two years.
Allon often played on the compound under the supervision of his mother while Murphy fished and hunted to earn a livelihood for his family.
“I did my best for my son, anybody here will tell you that,” she cried.
Ramdial said when she shared her story, she wanted other parents to learn from her experience.
“I want parents to hug and love their children and take care of their children. Provide for them and shower them, with love. It wasn’t for people to ridicule me,” she added.
Ramdial has been receiving counselling from the ministry, but she said she had reached a point where she didn’t think counselling could help her.
“I can never get back my son. But at least other people can learn from what happened to me,” she added.
However, a source from the Social Development Ministry said relatives were yesterday supposed to pick up the death certificate from the Registrar General’s office and take it to Boodoo’s Funeral Home so final arrangements could be made.
MP Rushton Paray has been liaising with the family, while Social Development Minister Donna Cox has provided a liaison social worker to help the entire family with psycho-social help. Cox said the entire family has been offered counselling and food support has also been provided.
Arrangements were being made last night to see whether someone could accompany Ramdial to get the documents for the funeral.