The wail of Akila Jacob’s two-year-old daughter Akeriah sent daggers of pain through our hearts when we visited her South Ruimveldt home recently.
Jacobs, a journalist attached to the National Communication Network (NCN) died on October 19 when a minibus contracted by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) to transport reporters to an assignment slammed into the back of a truck.
Akila’s mother Sandra Austin and her elder daughter Malika Jacobs smiled warmly as persons came to pay tribute to the young journalist. The strength visible in their eyes and on their faces bolstered many persons who stopped by as even in their grief they smiled encouragingly as they shared fond memories of Akila.
“She left early that morning,” Malika said, adding “I was still half asleep when she left but I heard her call my name repeatedly…I didn’t look at her,” she recalled, regret evident in her voice. Austin repeatedly described her daughter as an independent individual who “loved” what she did. She said her daughters were close and she’d given them a sheltered childhood, taught them good values and flooded their lives with love. However, every time Akeriah grabbed someone’s hand or shyly accepted a hug, everyone was reminded who would suffer most from Akila’s death.
Growing up in Number 29 Village
“Every August vacation our cousin Mandisa would come to Berbice,” Malika told us. “…I remember this game we used to play with Akila…it was really funny…” she said, smiling for the first time. Malika, laughing as she spoke, explained that there was an old machine which her family owned. “Mandisa and Akila would sit on the machine and I would push them…but they bullied me…when it was my turn to get pushed they wanted to play another game,” the 25-year-old said of the treasured memory.
Although there were many canals which beckoned you for a swim and endless games being played in the street, Malika said that she and her little sister would sit on the stairs and watch. Austin added that the girls wouldn’t even go for a picnic unless it was with family.
Malika described her sister as an outgoing person who always had a lot of friends. Akila was always careful about her appearance and loved dressing up, her older sister added. “She was chatty, bold and when she was mad about something she was really mad!” she shared.
Akila attended her village primary school and later attended the Mahaicony Secondary. Austin said that Akila then relocated to Georgetown with an aunt and uncle, to attend the Brickdam Secondary School. After a short time there she pursued work study attachment at the Guyana Television. It was there, Austin believes, that Akila discovered her passion for journalism. She then worked at the Kaieteur News, Channel Two and a few other media houses before returning to NCN. According to her family the woman had only been at NCN four months before the tragic accident.
Life at work
Akila’s death has sent her co-workers reeling as many recall her as a good friend and a keen journalist. Jocelle Archibald said that she and Akila became close during the few months that they worked together. She described Akila as “a joyous, happy person you could’ve always gone to for help” “I respected her professionalism and if I ever wanted help with anything I would go to Akila,” Archibald said. “I think the special thing about Akila was her smile…her smile would always help.”
Archibald explained that every morning they have a meeting with their boss and it had always made her smile to listen to Jacobs try to explain a point. “She would begin to speak fast in her attempt to explain her point and stumble over the words. I would never understand a word she was saying,” Archibald said, adding that “it was one of her endearing qualities which I think displayed the passion she had for what she did.”
Meanwhile, GPL Chief Executive Officer Bharat Dindyal recalled Akila’s tenacity at a press conference recently. Dindyal said many times planned interviews with Jacobs had to be rescheduled but she never gave up. He recalled too visiting NCN for the GPL School Debating Competition and the reporter tried her best to secure her long-awaited interview with him. Dindyal said it was sad that the life of one so young could be so easily snuffed out, even as he extended condolences to her relatives and colleagues.
