A large crowd gathered at the Sandy’s Funeral Home yesterday afternoon to bid farewell to four-year-old Antuane Lovell who was electrocuted by faulty GPL wires last December 28.
Lovell, a former student of the Eccles Nursery School and youngest of seven, was laid to rest more than two weeks after he was electrocuted while playing with his brother Rolex Vigilance, 7, at Lot 334 Craig, East Bank Demerara.
His grieving relatives are calling for justice while hoping that GPL will offer compensation.
As soon as the body arrived at the funeral parlour, the crowd became very emotional.
During the funeral service the singing of hymns such as “Amazing Grace” and “When the roll is called up yonder” filled the room as relatives cried bitterly.
In the meantime, Nicola Payne, mother of the four- year-old, was seen being comforted by close relatives as they all wept.
“I can’t imagine my son dead. Antuane would always have a place in my heart. He will always be my baby,” she moaned.
According to Derick Lovell, the boy’s father, it is a very emotional period for his family, adding that they cannot come to grips with the tragedy.
“It is so hard… I love all my children but Antuane is my little boy… death robbed him dearly, it is not a case he was a sickly child but GPL is to be blamed for my son’s death.”
He explained that his son who normally lived with him at their Bagotstown home went along with his older brother to spend the Christmas holidays with their mother following her request. He added that on the day of his son’s demise, Antuane was in the bedroom with his mother relaxing when he asked her to allow him into the yard to play.
The grieving mother said that Rolex came into the house informing her that his brother was not ‘looking well’.
She explained that “he came into the house and said “Mummy, Mummy, Antuane playing blackout on me.” According to her, she rushed to her son’s assistance and rubbed methylated spirits on his head not knowing that he was severely injured.
Stabroek News was told that the boy was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Center where he was pronounced dead on arrival at about 5:30 that afternoon.
“It is so hard for me right now, who feels it knows it… is hard as a mother to see your child lying before you in a casket.”
The child was described as being very jovial and was known to many in his area for his friendly personality.
Many mourners also expressed their frustration over GPL.
One woman said “How can they (GPL) say that they went to do repairs and leave it undone? GPL like go and cut off people light but what they to do, them aint doing.”
Lovell’s relatives said that they expect there will be justice in the boy’s death. “If GPL is willing to pay compensation, it is alright. But if they don’t want to we will take the matter to court.”
