Agony as Valencia brothers buried

Cries of agony echoed in the rural district of Valencia on Saturday as scores of mourners turned out for the funeral service of two brothers who drowned in a pond at a quarry a week ago.

Brothers Junior, 13 and Jason Soogrim, seven, were buried side by side at the Valencia Public Cemetery after a funeral held at their home at Sankarali Road, Tapana.

The boys drowned after they accompanied a neighbour to a nearby pond located about 100 metres away from their home.

Despite the covid19 restrictions which limits the number of people to gather for a funeral service to just five, scores of people turned up to say a final goodbye to the brothers.

Jason’s mother Neela Boodoo could not hold back her pain as she begged for her son and his brother to come back to her. “I can’t let them go. I could feel their lips on mine because we performed CPR on them. I am feeling pain, hurt, anger and nobody can help me. Anybody could help me please? Why they didn’t help me bring them back alive? I feel in my heart I want to go with them too.” Their father Martinez Soogrim could not contain his anger as he blamed the elder neighbour who accompanied his sons and National Quarries for the tragedy.

“I just want to put my hands on that man. National Quarries never fenced the pond. We are living here for years and my sons never went to that pond because we always warned them not to go there. I bought a pool for Jason just so he could play in it. Up until now National Quarries has never said anything or brought even a hamper for the family.

“Don’t worry, there is a God above and he is watching. He knows the truth what happened. Forgive me, I should have been there for you,” Soogrim said.

Pastor Vincent Paponette who officiated urged parents to be mindful about who they sent their children with and where they were going. “Children do what they want today but we must pay attention. If there was foul play in these children’s deaths, then may God be with that person.”

Newsday revisited the area where the boys drowned and two wooden crosses, adorned with flowers, were erected on the spot where the bodies were found.