“God will bring swift justice,” Bishop Dr Arnold Gajramsingh yesterday promised, as he rebuked the men who killed security guard Rudranath Samlal during a robbery at Duncan Village, San Fernando, last Thursday. Gajramsingh, of the of the I Care Christian Crusade, was speaking at Samlal’s funeral yesterday. Hundreds of people braved inclement weather to attend the funeral at the Samlal family’s Esmeralda Road, Williamsville, home.
Gajramsingh described Samlal as an honest, hard-working man. Saying Samlal’s murder will not go unpunished, Gajramsingh urged citizens to help the police and other national security agencies in the fight against crime. “Some people will kill to survive...Others will sacrifice all in their power to save and provide for their families and then one day someone who is lazy and who doesn’t work will put a gun on you and say ‘give me your money, give me your jewelry,’” he said.
“God does not sleep. He knows what happened and he will give us consolation and bring justice swiftly.” Gajramsingh said he was confident the police were working on the case and trying their best to reduce crime in the country. “We cannot condemn the police and the officers in national security,” he said. “We need to partner with the Government, police and national security and work with them to solve crime.”
Samlal’s daughter, Loraine, a student of the University of the West Indies, who delivered the eulogy, described him as the best father in the world. She said few people knew that Samlal served in the security detail of T&T’s first President, the late Sir Ellis Clarke. She recalled that every time he got paid, Samlal would buy phone cards and give to all his children, adding he was loving and caring.
“He would never take a day off from work because he loved to work...He would go to work even if he was sick,” Loraine said. She said nobody was prepared for her father’s early demise. Samlal, 52, of Esmeralda Road, Williamsville, died on the compound of Franklyn and Errol Electrical Services and Machine Shop Limited, at Palm Drive, Duncan Village, near San Fernando, on Thursday, while conducting a financial transaction.
Police believe a man followed Samlal’s co-worker from the bank and shot Samlal in the chest before stealing the cash. The robber grabbed the money bag and fled into a waiting Toyota Yaris. Over the weekend, four people were detained in connection with the murder. They are expected to appear before an identification parade today.