Jiffi Lubes employees grieve

Even if he had no work for you he would find work for you if you told him you were desperate for a job,” an employee of Farouk Kalamadeen said this morning.

A body believed to be his was found this morning in Kingston. Jiffi Lubes had been open every day since his disappearance but today it was closed following reports of the discovery of the body.
This newspaper visited the Jiffi Lubes office at North Road and Light Street today just before noon and found a number of the businessman’s employees seated outside. One older gentleman was sitting there sniffling; his eyes still red from crying. He said he was still shocked at the news of Kalamadeen’s body being found early this morning.

Three men who said they had been in Kalamadeen’s employ for over five years said he was a kind man, very down to earth and willing to help anyone in need. “He would walk into work casually dressed, mix and mingle with us and treat us as if we were his equal,” one of the men related. “If you went to him and told him that you needed financial assistance for some reason or another, he was always ready to give as much as he could manage,” he added.

Stabroek News later visited the office where four employees sat with their heads lowered, each struggling with their own thoughts and no one made an immediate effort to say anything.

A female office worker finally composed herself and said that they would not be able to give any details. According to her, Kalamadeen’s sister-in-law Member of Parliament, Bibi Shadick would be handling all interactions with the press.