Hundreds bid final farewell to murdered Berbice teens

Screams for “Isiah!” and “Joel!” penetrated the already austere atmosphere as the two teens, 16-year-old Isaiah Henry and 19-year-old Joel Henry, who were found brutally murdered on Sunday last at a coconut farm at Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice (WCB), were laid to rest.
Scores of persons from all walks of life flocked Parade Ground in Georgetown on Sunday morning, where a public service was held to bid farewell to the two teens.
During the proceedings, tears flowed from the eyes of many, as they could not begin to comprehend what could have led to the gruesome murders of the two teenagers, who were in the prime of their youth, and on the cusp of adulthood.
The question “why?” was steadily asked by mourners who claimed that the Henry boys had great potential and a lot to contribute to Guyana. But all that was taken away.

Giving remarks at the public service in Georgetown were Opposition leaders as well as representatives from the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) among other organisations.
Following the public service, and a private viewing by political leaders in the city, the funeral procession left Georgetown at about 10:20h to head up to the boys’ hometown at Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice.
As the purple caskets bearing the bodies of the two young men were escorted to WCB, hundreds of Guyanese lined the East Coast and West Berbice corridors holding placards and coconuts, while screaming “No Justice, No Peace”. There were even the sounds of African drums as the entourage passed through Buxton.
As they arrived at the teenager’s respective homes, screams erupted as family and friends decked in red and black tried to get a glimpse of the cousins’ remains which bore scars from the brutal chops they received as they were being murdered.

They were then taken to the Number Five Ball Field, WCB, where a funeral service was held after which they were laid to rest at the No Five Burial Ground, WCB.
The teens were found brutally chopped at a coconut farm in Cotton Tree Village two days after they went missing,

Their disappearance prompted family members to launch several search parties to look for them. After hours of searching, their mutilated bodies were discovered among the bushes and were partially covered in mud.
The gruesome murder of the two teenagers sparked outrage in the community on Sunday last, which quickly spread to other villages resulting in a fiery protest calling for justice to be served.
However, despite an aggressive police investigation and several persons being arrested, there has been no confession or conviction and the motive behind the killing of the young men remain a mystery.
Investigations into their deaths are ongoing.