They wear a brave face as they go out into what has been dubbed the “Gulf of Pirates”, but a closer look at the fishermen of the Orange Valley Bay reveal a deeper pain caused by July’s massacre out at sea which claimed the lives of seven of their comrades.
Now, a tide of depression and dispiritedness have seemingly swept over the Orange Valley community and with the festival of lights approaching residents said there is a lingering darkness they are forced to deal with.
According to fisherman Steve Ragoo he will not be celebrating Divali this year, “I normally light up deyas but this Divali I will not be lighting knowing that I lost so many friends outside there, it will be sad for the families as well, the atmosphere here has been very damp since the incident.”
Scattered across the community is evidence of its religious belief.
At the bay, hindu flags erected in thanksgiving are now epigraphs of tragedy.
The flagging spirits of seven grieving families ripple through the community as they prepare for Divali without their loved ones.
Eyes normally brightened by the reflections of deyas now harbour darkness which has blanketed the community and those directly impacted, like Nixon Kissoon, who is now preparing for Divali without his son Brandon and nephew Justin.
“He (Brandon) was in charge of the prayers because I was all about business, it don’t have that again, and I don’t have a replacement for it, it have nothing else I can say.”
At the bay Rohan Kissoon would watch his grandsons become among the best fishermen he had ever seen.
Since the murders, Kissoon said picking up the pieces has been a test of faith.
On the verge of tears he said what he would miss most this Divali is “their love and affection, they were very kind and nice and they were so young, they did not deserve to die, every day I miss them.”
Despite her misery and grief Nazeema Ramdeo lights a special deya daily as part of her offerings for her son Shiva.
She too will also be pained by broken Divali traditions, “he used to bring out the deyas, light it with his sister, every Divali they together now it don’t have that again.”
Usually during the lead up to the festival of lights, the predominantly hindu community of Orange Valley would be buzzing with activity, but a recent walk through the community painted a much different picture especially when compared to neighbouring communities.
While the fatal pirate attack out at sea continues to reverberate throughout the community months later, Pundit Neil Maharaj said he is hopeful that Mother Laksmi’s light would hopefully brighten the days ahead.
“Last year all this time the village was vibrant, there was prayers, religious activities around the community but so far this year the village has been plunged into darkness. What we are hoping for is that the grace of Mother Laksmi dawns her grace and light over the village so we can shine once more, and that she blesses the entire country as well so everyone can live in happiness and hope.”
July’s tragedy ripped families apart and crippled a community with fear, but on the eve of Divali the pundit has urged all affected not to succumb to the darkness and instead embrace and celebrate light and love.
Fishermen Alex Sooknanan, 18, Justin Kissoon, 19, and Jason “Trevor” Baptiste, 30, Brandon “Curry” Kissoon, 21, Shiva “Aries” Ramdeo, 27, Anand Rampersad, 39, and Leslie De Boulet all lost their lives at sea back in July during a pirate attack.
A Sea Lots man has been charged with the murders of the fishermen, while three others were also charged with robbery.