SASCHA WILSON
Senior Reporter
sascha.wilson@guardian.co.tt
United National Congress councillor Romona Victor was known as a fighter in the Siparia Borough Corporation, championing the rights of her electoral district with vigour and determination.
But behind the scenes, few, apart from her relatives, knew of the personal struggles she faced in her relationship, which ended tragically on Sunday. Victor, 36, and her common-law husband, Rodney Ramsumair, 45, were found dead at their Coora Road, Quinam Branch Road, Siparia home in an apparent murder-suicide.
Autopsies performed at the Forensic Science Centre yesterday found that she died from blunt force trauma to the head and neck, while he died from poisoning.
Police said a bottle of herbicide and a note from Ramsumair were discovered at the scene.
Victor’s father, Francis Ricardo Victor, made the heartbreaking discovery around 3.30 pm when he visited their home to drop off produce from his garden.
When they failed to answer, Francis decided to enter the house.
Nothing prepared him for what he saw. “When I open the door, Oh God, it wasn’t a nice sight. All I could do is stay in the house and bawl. I say, ‘Oh God boy, Romona you dead girl’. I say, ‘Tall man kill Romona’,” he recalled.
Victor’s decomposing body was lying on the bed, covered with a blanket, while next to her was her common-law husband.
At the scene, Francis said police read a handwritten note to him from Ramsumair, in which he apologised and said he could not live without Romona.
The father said he had spoken to Victor numerous times about their stormy relationship. “I tell them I say 16 years now, allyuh supposed to get it right already.”
Though he never spoke to Ramsumair, he said Ramsumair’s father was also concerned about the trouble in their relationship.
He said he repeatedly warned his daughter. “I say if allyuh can’t get it right, what will happen, the man will kill you in the house. I say this man will kill you in this house, girl.”
However, he said the couple always forgave each other and never involved the police.
Francis admitted his daughter would often fight back. “I feel he was more fear of she because the girl wasn’t easy. The girl not taking stupidness. She gone, may she soul rest in peace, and I know she gone fighting. He eh kill she just so.”
The grieving father echoed the advice of former prime minister Dr Keith Rowley for women to choose their partners wisely.
Victor’s mother, Laura, who last saw her on Friday, said she never expected that the relationship would end in death.
Victor, the mother of a 17-year-old boy, had served as a councillor for the Siparia East/San Francique South district in the Siparia Borough Corporation for two terms, while her common-law husband worked as a labourer in the corporation.
Siparia Mayor Doodnath Mayrhoo said if he had known about Victor’s personal troubles, he would have tried to help her. “We did not have a clue. There were no signs or evidence of Romona having any marital problem or personal problems because the vigour and strength with which she sat in that council and fought for her burgesses was never compromised at no time because we could not have picked up that she had any personal problems.”
Residents Mintra Maharaj and Ricardo Jeewandass said the tragedy left them in shock.
“I felt something inside churn because Romona was nice.”
“She was present at times when you needed her. She was valuable to us,” he said.
