By Chevy Devonish
The body of Canada-based Guyanese, Muneer Hussain was yesterday laid to rest amidst tears and calls for justice by his family.
The battered, semi-naked body of Hussain was discovered by family members in a shallow pool of water near the Blankenburg, West Demerara sea wall where the man had gone to exercise on Tuesday.
An alarm was raised and the family was mobilized into a search party after the man failed to return home. This was at about 6:30 on Tuesday evening.
A relative stated that not too long into the search the family recovered the man’s hat, then his slippers and finally, his body, which was lying face down in a shallow pool of water.
The family noticed that the man’s pants were missing along with an undisclosed sum of cash.
A Post-Mortem Examina-tion would later conclude that though the man had suffered blunt force trauma to the head, the cause of death was asphyxiation due to manual strangulation.
Zora Muneer also from Canada and wife of Hussain arrived in Guyana on Wednesday along with three of her children: daughters Bibi Khan and Fanieza Nasir, and son Salim Muneer.
Zora expressed her sadness and disbelief at the passing of her husband.
She stated that despite her sadness she is comforted by the fact hat they were able to recover her husband’s body. “That place where he was found, the water could have came in and taken the body away, and we probably never would have seen his body again. So we’re glad that that we were at least able to find the body. How could something like this happen,” she asked. “This place isn’t safe for anyone. Tourists come here for vacation and this is what happens to them? The people have no protection. I’m really not sure I want to come back,” said Zora.
Bibi Khan said that she hopes whoever is responsible for this ghastly act is caught so that the family can have justice. “Why did they have to kill him, they got the money, why couldn’t they have just taken the money and leave him alone, what kind of people are they that they couldn’t show mercy to a senior,” asked Bibi. She says that she blames the lack of maintenance of public spaces for such occurrences. “The Government leaves these places unattended and the criminals use them to hide and stage their criminal acts.”
Family members have vowed not to let this matter rest. Relatives have stated that they plan to write letters and even picket the relevant authorities if necessary. Relatives also stated their intention to contact and solicit help from the Canadian High Commission in Guyana to assist in their efforts to secure justice.
A relative revealed that the police have stated that they are following several leads, and based on those leads are very close to making an arrest.
Hussain was described by his family as a quiet man who was very charitable, always giving to those in need.
