The slaughter of 23-year-old Abdool Yasseen, Captain of the Davie II in the massacre staged at Bartica by a group of heavily armed gunmen on Sunday night, has created a void “that could never be filled,” in the home of the Yasseen family, at 571 Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, his nineteen-year-old sister Fara said.

And what makes it worse, his mother Bibi Halima added, is the fact that her husband Abdool Aleem Yasseen, died just one year ago on January 22, 2007, and the family had still not gotten over the loss. Abdool (Jnr) had since taken on the responsibilities of the home and was executing these so well.

Her husband had died of a heart attack two days before Abdool (Jnr) celebrated his 22nd birthday on January 24.

Having lost his father at age 22, just a few months after having graduated from the University of Guyana with a degree in Business Management, things took a dramatic turn for Abdool (Jnr). He was now forced to assume greater responsibility than he had bargained for at his tender age, without the involvement of his caring father who had always been his greatest friend and mentor.

For him, it meant having to take over the family estate, and immediately turn to taking up where his father had left off – managing the ship, Davie II, while taking on other key roles in the home. Abdool had always had a fascination with the ship, but never in his wildest dreams did he see himself being totally in charge without his father around.

Mourning the loss of her son, Bibi sobbed: “He was my back brace; he took care of the home. Who’s going to do it now?” She expressed grief at the way her son and others were slaughtered, adding that they were treated like animals.

And Fara, who spoke with the Guyana Chronicle earlier, while her mother was out, recalled that Abdool had left Port Georgetown on Thursday night and set out for Bartica. As for Bibi, she cherishes every memory of the last telephone call from him when he reminded her of what an adorable mother she was. He ended on a note that he was going to be home with them soon.

On receiving the devastating news on Monday morning, Mrs. Yasseen and other family members set out for Bartica. Abdool had been shot in the neck, and maybe other places… they cannot now recall. The ship had already been secured, and so they were unable to get anything off of it. For the time being, the ship remains at Bartica, but she does not know just what will be the next move.

Trying to hold back the tears at their home yesterday, Fara flushed as she choked on the words: “It’s really cruel, I can’t accept it.”She reminisced on the good times they spent together in the home. “We played a lot; teased mom sometimes, but we were a great family.” Abdool leaves to mourn: his mother, Bibi Halima Yasseen, grandmother – Fahimen Abdool, brother – Abdool Azeem and sister Fara. He is to be buried on Friday.