THE small and isolated village of Brasso Seco continue to honour the memory of the “selfless, carefree and joyful” Javed Omardeen, a 33-year-old cocoa farmer who was tragically shot and killed in a car near his home on March 14.

Close to 75 villagers and people who knew Omardeen gathered at the Brasso Seco bus shed on the evening of March 18 for the second of a three-night candlelight vigil, calling for justice for Omardeen's death. From the tiniest child to the oldest members and even a few of the community’s dogs came together to pay their respects.

As the procession walked on Madamas Road, the absence of streetlights was noticeable. The candles lit the way, as the group walked in silence, making their way to Upper Gomez Trace – where Omardeen was murdered.

Police said around 6.15 pm, Omardeen was sitting in his car talking to someone near his home. Around 9.20 pm, a passerby saw the car parked in the same location with the house lights on and the car idling.

The person stopped to speak to Omardeen but realised the driver’s window glass was shattered. She saw Omardeen slumped over the centre console, bleeding from his chest. He was already dead.

[caption id="attachment_1144992" align="alignnone" width="1024"] NO SAFE PLACE: Brasso Seco residents complained about crime during a vigil on March 18 for murdered cocoa farmer Javed Omardeen. - Photo by Faith Ayoung[/caption]

Those at the front of the vigil held up placards, some bearing pictures of Omardeen, while another displayed a bold message which read, JUSTICE FOR JAVED.

Candles were lit at the corner before the vigil moved through the community. Along the way, more people joined to pay their respect. The group eventually made its way back to the bus shed after a 30-minute procession.

At the bus shed, Che Ragoonanan, who led the procession, shared his thoughts on his fallen friend and the community.

“Brasso Seco is a lovely place, and I fell in love when I first moved here. Javed was the first person to open his arms and embrace me as a friend.

“We stand here because we want justice for Javed. We are a community, and we are a community of love.”

[caption id="attachment_1144994" align="alignnone" width="1024"] PRAYER FOR JUSTICE: Brasso Seco residents and friends of murdered cocoa farmer Javed Omardeen pray for justice for his death during a vigil in the community on March 18. - Photo by Faith Ayoung[/caption]

Ragoonanan expressed his frustration with crimes in the community and asked for change.

“We can’t take no more of this. No more of this, no more! We turning a new leaf. If we know something, we speak.

“Tomorrow it could be on your doorstep. Justice for Javed and justice for all.”

Others shared lighter stories of Omardeen. His neighbour, Alexis Marianes, explained how unique he was.

“He was the only person I saw most days. He always really had an awesome project going, whether it was plants or building some sort of crazy thing.

“He always thought outside of the box, and I really appreciated his intellect and his lightness.”