Overcome with grief, director of Iere Couriers Dr Wendy-Lee Persad Bsela yesterday promised to give support to five-year-old Kensiyah Ragoonanan, who witnessed the murder of her mother last weekend. Kensiyah ran into the streets last Saturday night and flagged down a passing motorist after Jessica Brereton was shot dead by her boyfriend Anil Lalmansingh, who then killed himself at Princes Margaret Street, San Fernando.
During the funeral yesterday, Kensiyah sat wide-eyed sucking her thumb while dozens around her wept openly as they said a final goodbye to Brereton. Relatives said the child no longer smiled or spoke frequently since the murder. Speaking at the funeral service at Guides Funeral Home yesterday, Bsela said it was a habit to speak to Brereton every morning for more than an hour while she drove to her office at Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
“Jessy was a joy to speak with. She was my office manager and I relied on her. I heard so much about her children. I heard about Kensiyah’s love for dancing and all the special things that Hesikiyah did in church,” Bsela said. Wiping away tears, she whispered: “I am heart broken. My husband and I have not slept since Saturday night. I was her boss, her friend and her sister. She sat on my bed for Christmas, that was how close we were.”
Speaking directly to Kensiyah, Bsela vowed to always lend support to the grieving children. “Aunty Wendy will never forget you. Whatever you will need, we will be there. Let us find peace in our hearts and be there for these children,” Bsela told the mourners. Meanwhile, Rev Lurtan Patterson urged the congregation to cultivate dialogue, discipline and divine intervention in their lives. He said couples must always find someone to talk to when problems arose.
“You need to talk and have a third party listen to your concerns. We must always have discipline. Nobody is a law unto himself,” Patterson said. He added that Satan had a diabolical plan to devour as many people as he could. “That is why we need divine intervention,” Patterson said. Brereton’s friend Li Ann Francis also broke down in tears as she delivered the eulogy. She described Brereton as a gem, jewel and treasure. Francis said Brereton loved her children and would do anything to make them happy.
“She was selfless and I will always miss your bright smile and squeaky voice,” Francis sobbed. Brereton’s mother Veronica Noel hugged the children during the funeral which ended before 6 pm.