Former Independent Senator, Senior Counsel Dana Saroop Seetahal, was assassinated at
12.05 am on May 4, 2014.
Two months shy of her 59th birthday, Seetahal was shot dead near the Woodbrook Youth Facility, as she drove along Hamilton Holder Street, Woodbrook, on the way to her One Woodbrook Place apartment.
To date her killers remain free.
This is the second publication in a four-part series, in which senior reporter Anna-Lisa Paul talks to the family about their quest to find answers and presents the reflections of some of Seetahal's close friends and former colleagues.
As rapid gunshots rang out on that fateful night when Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal was assassinated in a well-orchestrated and well-executed killing, residents living along Hamilton Holder Street, Woodbrook, never imagined who was slain.
Instead, they sought the cover of darkness and waited for the police to arrive on the scene—which they did in less than five minutes after the brutal killing.
Emerging to see Seetahal slumped behind the wheel and the lights flashing, one resident recalled, “Three consecutive shots rang out, followed by a pause and then the next set rang out. I hear them saying seven rounds went off, but from what I heard, it was much more than that.”
Another resident concurred, “A high-powered rifle was used, there was rapid gunfire, at least 15 shots were fired.”
Crime scene investigators recovered approximately 15 spent 5.56 calibre shells at the scene, which officials confirmed are used in a high-powered weapon, the AR-15 assault rifle.
A post-mortem report revealed that Seetahal died after being shot at close range, and not from a high-powered rifle as was initially thought.
Police officials said Seetahal was shot five times by her assailants—twice in the right side of her head, twice in the right forearm and once in the chest. Her killer(s) were said to be standing so close to her that gun-powder residue was retrieved from her clothing.
At the time, the Prime Minister offered a reward of $2.5 million dollars for information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of those responsible, while Crime Stoppers offered a $1 million reward.
These monies remain unclaimed to this day.
Unwilling to have their names or pictures published, residents and business owners near the Woodbrook Youth Facility—the area where Seetahal was killed—endorsed the call by Seetahal's family for justice to be delivered in this matter.
One angry resident said, “I am amazed that nothing has happened yet in this matter. You keep hearing the police are dealing with it, they have some information, some idea as to the perpetrators and that an arrest is to be carried out in the near future, but it's still dead.”
Scoffing at what she referred to as “police lies,” the resident continued, “I do not know who the authorities are really fooling, because the population is too educated now to be treated in such a manner, where you are in limbo all the time and crime continues to increase.”
Revealing her 95-year-old mother had to be hospitalised for two weeks following the incident, another resident said the impact had life-changing consequences for her family, as they were forced to change the way they lived and operated on a daily basis.
“We don't go out late at night anymore. Someone always has to be home to open the gate and if we see strange people walking along the street or parked outside, we don't come out,” she said.
Still confused after one year as to why there has been no resolution to this matter—given Seetahal's prominence—the residents have now formed themselves into an informal neighbourhood watch group, accusing the authorities of not “being serious about curbing crime.”
Pointing to the top of Hamilton Holder Street where there is a lone security camera attached to the utility pole, a male resident said, “Imagine, something like that happened and, up to now, they have not installed any more cameras along the street. The only other camera is at the end of O'Connor Street, closer to Ariapita Avenue.”
Gesturing to the Woodbrook Youth Facility—where the exterior wall boasts a mural in her honour titled Dana: Not Gone, Not Lost—the resident said there was a need for additional security measures to be introduced, as the centre was used almost daily by various groups and individuals to host a variety of functions.
Security guards last week confirmed that immediately after the incident, “people stopped coming here.”
However, they admitted that business had once again picked up, and they too called for more police patrols in the area.
Guards have now been posted at the facility on a 24-hour basis.
Resident: It was hired killers
Hesitant to speak on the matter, an elderly man had to be coaxed to recount his version of that fateful night.
“On the night she was killed, I was watching a late movie and was just about to turn in when I heard the gunshots in rapid succession.”
Glossing over the other bits, the resident continued, “Almost immediately, three or four police cars pulled up. I found it strange that they were on the scene so quickly, within minutes they were there.”
Remembering seeing Seetahal's Touareg SUV parked in the middle of the street, with the engine running and the lights on, he said, “I didn't know who it was at the time. My personal feeling is that they were hired killers and somebody big is behind it.”
Offering his opinion, the man continued, “I think the person who ordered this is still around.”
He too revealed that his family had altered their lifestyle as they were more cautious now when going out at night, and had resorted to keeping their gate and home locked at all times.
Calling for a more visible police presence in the area, residents agreed that their confidence in the police service had waned even more after the killing.
“We would like to see them do something to hasten the outcome of this case as everybody is really concerned. It is just hanging over everybody's head and we would like them to speed up the investigation.”
Discouraged by the lack of action by the authorities, a dejected business owner declared, “It is a very bad sign of where this country has gotten to, when somebody like her can be killed on the street and still nothing has come of it.”
Turning the tables, one woman asked, “If a mural was done at every spot where a murder is committed in T&T, would there be enough walls?”
Shock ripples across the region
Among those who joined in extending condolences at the time of Seetahal's death was Guyana’s President Donald Ramotar, who was quoted in an article by the Caribbean Media Corporation on May 5, 2014.
It read, “Guyana President, Donald Ramotar, was alarmed at the news of the execution-style killing of the attorney.”
Seetahal was well known among Guyana’s legal fraternity and had also sat on the Linden Commission of Inquiry in Guyana.
In 2012, the Guyanese government retained the services of Seetahal to the Commission, to investigate the circumstances leading up to and surrounding the unrest in the mining town of Linden, in which the shooting deaths of three protesters and the damage to state and private properties were examined.
Jamaican attorney and former minister of national security and justice, K.D. Knight, also expressed shock at Seetahal’s death.
Knight, who also sat on the Linden Commission of Inquiry in Guyana, said he had known her for more than 20 years.
Ma Pau employees: Gone But Not Forgotten
Echoing the hurt, pain, anger and disappointment expressed by Seetahal's family and Woodbrook residents as Seetahal's one-year death anniversary approaches, employees of the Ma Pau Members Club, Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook, where Dana often frequented and had last visited the night she was killed, called for her memory to be honoured by ensuring that justice was served.
Declining to be interviewed as their emotions were raw, the employees had Ma Pau's director Sherry Persad supply a prepared text on their behalf, Gone But Not Forgotten.
Describing Seetahal as a long-standing and dear friend whose death had a significant impact on both employees and managers of the casino, Persad wrote, “My personal experiences with her I recall with pride, for she was such a learned person and commanded the attention of all, that I was always in awe of her advice and comments.”
She added that the employees were so accustomed to Dana's larger-than-life presence, and had become versed with her habits to such an extent that they could anticipate her food and beverage choices as soon as she walked in.
Always eager to please her, many of them recalled being on the receiving end of a “buff” from Seetahal when they crossed her, but testified that she could be the sweetest person otherwise.
Affectionate to many, the employees said she often doled out free legal advice and that her “smoke break” was usually the time they sought to openly converse with her.