Corpse missing as contractor digs up Rosignol Cemetery to access sand

A contractor of a West Bank Berbice community in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) has dug up sections of the Rosignol Cemetery, situated at Murphy Dam, to access reef sand, as demand for that commodity has increased in the infrastructure sector.
And relatives of a man who was buried less than three months ago have said on Thursday that they cannot find either his grave or his corpse.
Reports are that this contractor allegedly took machinery into the cemetery over the weekend, and started to dig up reef sand. He has even allegedly removed tombs in his quest to access desired quantities of reef sand.
Officials of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) have been called to address the matter on Thursday. The Police have thus been summoned.
Currently, a large number of projects are under construction in Region Five, including the development of a large housing scheme at Shieldstown, West Bank Berbice; and those all require reef sand, thus demand for the commodity is high. However, irate residents and relatives of the dead are not happy with these developments.
Shadeek Bacchus was laid to rest at the Rosignol Cemetery in June of this year, and his wife Tishwarie Lall has said arrangements were being made to place a headstone at his grave.
The sobbing widow had this to say after visiting the grave on Thursday. “When I come today (Thursday), is nothing at all here; only where they dig up. No piece of board, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing.”
Ivan Bacchus, brother of the late Shadeek Bacchus, has said he had received reports that his brother’s grave was removed. He said he was in disbelief at the news. In fact, Ivan Bacchus said he had verbally abused his neighbour who had brought the news to him.
“When I come, I see for myself. My brother’s grave can’t be found. It is Father’s Day my brother bury here; it still should be fresh. He was the first person on the left-hand side when you come in the burial ground,” Ivan has said.
Regional Vice Chairman Rian Pieters has said he received reports of the incident on Wednesday evening, and he visited the site on Thursday.
He said he was told that persons could not find the final resting places of their loved ones, and he has expressed dissatisfaction at the action of the contractor.
“I myself am very surprised that anybody would want to carry out such an act in what we consider a cemetery and the final resting place of our loved ones,” Pieters has said.
This publication understands that the contractor has since said the cemetery is situated on his land. Nevertheless, Pieters has engaged the Rosignol-Zee Lust NDC on the issue, and that NDC has since made available a plan of the area which seems to suggest the cemetery is situated in an area designated as a cemetery.
Rosignol resident Rajindra Victor has told this publication that the excavator was discovered digging sand from the cemetery two Saturdays ago.
“It is till this Saturday and Sunday they move the sand. They time people, and late they move the sand. Our loved ones bury here in this burial ground; my mother, father and sister all bury here,” Victor has said.
According to Regional Vice Chairman Rian Pieters, the act of removing sand from a cemetery is not something that anyone should support. He has warned that the Police, as well as the RDC and NDC, are investigating the matter.
“I am sure that the person or persons who are responsible will be dealt with according to the law,” Pieters has declared. (G4)