EXCLUSIVE
By NOELLE NICOLLS
Tribune Features Editor
nnicolls@tribunemedia.net
A select few funeral directors were called to an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss the recent police investigation regarding a body found in an open grave in the Southern Cemetery.
Sources would not discuss the contents of the meeting, stating only that the meeting would “determine the course of action” to be taken by some in order to protect the profession.
The meeting was not believed to be an assembly of the United Funeral Directors Association of the Bahamas.
When contacted, UFDAB President Wendell Dean II said he was informed on Friday afternoon of the unfolding story, in which police reported that a fully clad body was found in an open grave in the Southern Cemetery.
Sources claim, the body was unceremoniously disposed by the funeral home with carriage over the body because the family could not afford to pay.
Mr Dean objected to the use of the word “dumped”, saying it was not a dignified professional term, but suggested that the body was not disposed of in the proper manner.
He said: “The body was not dumped. That is not what happened.
“They were trying to dispose of the body in such a manner that was unethical, unprofessional and illegal. That is as much as I am willing to say on this matter at this point in time.
“I have no further comment until the police have done their investigation.”
Comments
TalRussell 11 years, 9 months ago
Some years back, and I'll not name either the person on time period as it would make no sense to bring embarrassment to the now deceased person's loved ones, there was a certain well known reverend who was responsible to the government for making sure those buried at the expense of the then government, were given a decent send off by a man of God. Unfortunately for some of the dead, this is not exactly what occurred at the time in many of the burials.
The good reverend was known to show up days, even weeks 'following' their bodies being placed under the ground, to say a prayer at their gravesides.
I think it would be fair to believe that some of the deceased never did receive the good reverend's final prayers, cause he didn't even bother to show up at their gravesides.
by TalRussell
sburrows 11 years, 9 months ago
Let the dead bury the dead.
Arob 11 years, 9 months ago
Bahamian Culture: Our culture is more than junkanoo, rake’n scrape and peas’n rice. Our culture includes how we treat the dead. In our Bahamas, we respect the remains of the dead, the rights of the family, religious convictions of the deceased etc. Our culture has always been to treat the remains of the dead humanely. "Dumping the dead" is not a part of our culture. It is definitely not the norm. And, we must prevent this from happening again. We have lost so much over the years. Once upon a time, we held wakes the night before the funeral (friends and family singing hymns about 'Jerusalem the Golden'), then we had repast--a reverent meal which has morphed into a party after the funeral. Nowadays, the repast is has now expanded to a ‘liquid’ repast outside the church while the funeral service is in progress and in the graveyard during the burial.
What have we lost?
Funeral Association: National Insurance death benefit is $1,000. Can you create a funeral package for about $1,000 –cremation or burial? Note: burial package should include embalming, a coffin and interment. (A coffin made in The Bahamas.)
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