THERE were mixed emotions yesterday at the home of the Seecharran family at Track ‘A’ Lusignan, East Coast Demerara when members of the Salvation Army visited the home to counsel and bring other forms of cheer to the bereaved relatives.
Three persons from the family were murdered in the January 26 bloodbath at Lusignan - Rooplal Seecharran, a 56-year-old sugar cane harvester; his wife, Dhanraji and their eleven-year-old adopted grand daughter, Raywattie, also called ‘Baby’.

When the Salvation Army visited yesterday, it was Rooplall’s 57th birth anniversary, and the couple’s daughter Noreen (also called Sunita) was huddled together with her son and younger nephews reflecting on his life.

Noreen, who told of what a great person her father was, reflected on the life he lived, adding: “There was nobody like my father; I can’t find anyone to replace him.”

When asked by the Salvation Army three weeks ago what she would like them to help the family with, Noreen, shaking her head, almost tearfully answered: “I don’t know what to tell you, all I know is we want them back.” The couple had been married for 35 years.

Noreen, 23, recalled that during her father’s life, March 3rd was always a great day in the home. There were four siblings she remembered, and on that day, they would all come together at their parents’ home, cook lots to eat, and have ‘a nice little’ family get-together.

“But today he is not here, and it hurts so much,” she said, trying to hold back the tears. Many people have lost their parents and other family members, she reasoned, but what hurts most is the kind of death her parents had.

The Salvation Army helped make the family’s day bright by praying and singing a choice worship hymn with them, then handed over the hampers they had brought.