On a day when he would be at the motor racing meet at South Dakota because of his love for the sport, the last rites were read for businessman Farouk Kalamadeen in front of numerous mourners, many still deep in grief.
Prayers were read for Kalamadeen at the Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) at Woolford Avenue yesterday and his burial, according to Muslim rites, followed at the Eccles Cemetery, East Bank Demerara.
Remembered for his charitable work; active lifestyle; and as a fine racer who “made his last race”, those who knew Kalamadeen reflected on his life while expressing hope that those responsible for his death would be brought to justice.
Quoting from Winston Churchill, Kalamadeen’s nephew Damon Fung-Fook said his uncle was “ready to meet his maker but whether his maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting him was another matter”. He said the businessman would have been surprised to see how many people turned out to mourn him.
Fung-Fook said Kalamadeen is in a better place and away from the pain that the family has endured within the last month – in reference to his uncle’s April 2 sudden disappearance, the recent discovery of his decapitated body and later, his partly decomposed head.
Stating that his uncle could do almost anything with an engine, he said Kalamadeen was generous in his business and would help out many persons on a regular basis, often charging nothing for his services. There was none like Kalamadeen, Fung-Fook said, adding that his uncle always encouraged him to stay strong. According to him, his uncle left a legacy that points to hard work and prevailing over trials and that in his own way, Kalamadeen showed them how important they all were to him.
“He had only one wish for me and that was to see me settle down with a good girl”, the young man added.
Shaik Moeenul-ul-Hack of the Central Islamic Organ-isation of Guyana (CIOG) remembered Kalamadeen as being very active and involved in charitable work. He said that the society is moving from a God-fearing to a God-less one, adding that those who are responsible for Kalamadeen’s death would not be able to find sleep. He added that justice would be served and that it is now time for peace and love to prevail.
Nearing the end of the service, persons gathered were allowed to pay their respects to Kalamadeen. A photograph of him smiling was sitting atop the closed coffin and many started weeping upon viewing it. The businessman’s family was unable to control their emotions when they approached the coffin.
A few persons gathered at the service said they had turned out at the MYO on Friday last for the burial and were later informed that it had been delayed. They said that as faith would have it the businessman was buried at the right time.
