Errol Fabien, talk show host and friend of Marcia Henville, yesterday criticised and blasted residents of the community where the slain journalist lived for not helping her in her time of need. He further called on people in society to stop being bystanders and stand up for others when they needed help.
“Marcia Henville called for help. Marcia Henville screamed. In that fancy Fidelis Heights place nobody went when she called for help. If anyone in Fidelis Heights was bawling, Marcia would have been banging on that front door, but no, nobody wanted to help Marcia,” Fabien said. Henville was laid to rest yesterday in the Tunapuna Cemetery after a funeral service at the Holiness Revival Ministries in Woodbrook.
She was found dead in her Fidelis Heights home in St Augustine last week Saturday. Initial reports stated she died in a fire. However, an autopsy said she was murdered. Fabien lamented on Henville’s final moments and chided those who did not help her while she was being murdered. Fabien, who got emotional during his testimonial to Henville’s life, admonished people for not helping others who were in need.
“This is not the country I know. When somebody was calling for help, what is going on? Who are we? Nobody ever helped you? Oh gorm, help somebody. Stand up for somebody. Believe in yourself and stand up for somebody. Even if someone is not behind you, stand up for somebody. “Like we got shy or stupid? That has to stop. We don’t have to know who call for help.
“They don’t have to pay us. They don’t have to bawl out. We can see when people need help. I don’t know what happen. Anyone can tell me how we got so stupidly? We can’t not go when people need help,” Fabien said. He called on the mourners to reflect on Henville’s legacy and help others as much as they could.
“Marcia is not dead. Everybody we have to help Marcia. We have to help people who are in trouble...She must have a voice in all of us else we wouldn’t just bury Marcia, we would kill her and we cannot kill Marcia Henville,” he said. The service was filled to capacity. To honour Henville’s unique style of dress, many chose to wear bright pink outfits, feather boas, and one woman wore a rainbow wig.
Some of the mourners included Community Development Minister Winston Peters, former sport minister Anil Roberts, former gender minister Verna St Rose-Greaves, the musical group 3Canal and members of the media. Henville’s children, Chioke and Nekiyah Henville, gave the eulogy for their mother. Chioke said despite all the difficult times his family had been put through, he forgave his mother’s killer.
“In life there will be people who will hurt you and cause you pain. You cannot hold grudges,” Chioke said. He said among the best advice his mother gave him was “Don’t care about what other people say about you. If you like it, wear it.” That motto, Chioke said, was reflected in her life. “She always used to say I don’t care about what other people say. It is just their opinion,” Chioke said. Chioke said his mother’s devotion to helping people would alway resonate with him.
Nekiyah reflected on her mother’s bravery, saying Marcia was never afraid of dying. “Marcia Henville, my mother, was an amazing journalist. Bold and fearless, she never hesitated to help someone.”