The nine-year-old girl who fell into a pit latrine at Moruca and drowned on Monday was laid to rest yesterday, following a simple ceremony at the Santa Rosa Catholic Mission Church, which was attended by fellow students, teachers and villagers.

Tanesha De Souza had gone to use the latrine at her school on Monday, the first day of her school life, when she fell inside. Despite the efforts of the residents who used an axe to expand the seating area so that a parent could squeeze through to pull her body from the filth, she died shortly after reaching the Kumaka District Hospital.

The headmaster of the school, Lloyd Savory told Stabroek News yesterday that the latrine has since been sealed. He explained that shortly after the incident, once the police had completed their investigations, boards were nailed across the entrance.

Savory said that latrine, one of four used by the more than 730 children and 24 teachers at the school, will no longer be used.

Asked about the mood in the community, he said there was some anger toward the teaching staff over the incident, but many parents are being supportive.

To facilitate those students and teachers who wanted to attend the funeral, the Santa Rosa Primary School was dismissed at 2 pm instead of 3 pm, which is the scheduled time for school to end. The funeral service was set for 3 pm.
De Souza was involved in a serious accident years ago that robbed her of her speech and because of her condition, she was never sent to school. Her parents were however encouraged to do so and on the first day of the school term – Monday, she was taken to the school by her mother.

Admission was not being done at that time, so her mother who is a teacher asked permission for her to stay at the school.

De Souza was left in the care of another teacher who was unaware of her situation and she subsequently indicated that she wanted to use the washroom. Because the teacher was engaged in a conversation with other parents, she was sent to the outhouse in the company of another student.

While there she encountered difficulties and fell into the pit.
Savory had told this newspaper that they were unaware that the child could not use a latrine unaided until after the incident had occurred.
Tanesha De Souza leaves to mourn her parents Vanessa and Marlon and three brothers.