By Kenton X. Chance
Though most of the tributes were done in English, the language of her adopted homeland, it was “No llores si me amas…” (Don’t cry if you love me”), read passionately in her native tongue, that seemed to move most, the hundreds of persons who gathered in Kingstown, on Thursday, to remember slain Cuba-born nurse, Arianna Taylor-Israel.
The poem, a tribute Saint Augustin wrote to his mother, roughly translated into English, begins, “If you knew the gift of God and what Heaven is!/If you could hear the song of the Angels and see me in their midst!”
And, Neuricel Fonseca, a member of the Cuban
medical brigade in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), read the words with
the measured pace and tone that one might anticipate at such an event.
But it was not long before she let loose the passion often associated with Latin American culture.
And by the time she read the 10th and 11th lines of the poem — “Believe me; When death comes to break the bonds,/as he has broken the ones that chained me” — Fonseca’s eye began to evidence tears, which reflected the light from the video cameras which fully illuminated her face amidst the glow of many lighted candles.
The line, “Wipe away your tears and do not
cry if you love me…” came as she seemed to let lose pent up emotions as she
continued, “Whatever we were for each other, we still are/ Death is nothing/ I
have simply transitioned to the other side./
I am still I and you are
still you.”
The poem was read at O.T. Car park in Kingstown, where nurses in their uniforms, doctors, devoid of their white coats, and hundreds of persons from various walks of life, many wearing orange in protest against violence against women, gathered in the nation’s capital to remember “Nurse Taylor” who was gunned down in the city one week earlier.
On Jan. 30 about 3:30 p.m., Taylor’s elder son was among students at the St. Martin’s Secondary School (SMSS) in Kingstown Park who went outside after hearing the sound of gunfire.
He might never have imagined that the person he would find barely clinging to life was his 44-year-old mother.
Police are alleging that Taylor-Israel’s
husband, Vincentian national Mitch Israel, 57, mortally wounded her when he
allegedly shot her multiple times outside his alma mater on a day that she
served him with a petition of divorce.
She died about an hour later at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital — her workplace — where she was taken for medical attention. Her husband of 15 years has been charged with murder in connection with her death.
And, on Thursday, one week later, hundreds of persons gathered at SMSS, located at Kingstown Park, and made their way in a candlelight march through the city, and into the car park, located across the street from Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, where Taylor-Israel worked.
There, they sang in both Spanish and English, quoted scripture, prayed, and paid tribute to the slain nurse.
The vigil emphasised that victims of domestic abuse do not have particular facial features or expressions.
A smile masking a frown
In welcoming persons to the vigil, Neeka Anderson-Isaacs, communications officer in the Ministry of Health, quoted 2 Chronicles 7:14 in which God promised to heal the land if his people humble themselves, pray and turn from their wicked ways.
“Right now, I want every one of us to look inward because all of us have wicked ways that we need to turn from. And when we look inwards then we need to look up and we need to ask for forgiveness and then we need to turn to God so that he can hear our prayers and he can heal our land,” she said.
Psychologist Dr. Jozelle Miller told the crowd that nothing in life prepares a person for the traumatic experience of a violent crime, especially when it is committed against a colleague and friend.
“As a ministry, we mourn; the nursing fraternity grieves deeply; as a woman, the pain is indescribable,” Miller said, adding that she believes there are no words that can express the anguish felt.
“But even amidst our pain, we stand today in hope,
in solidarity, praying that justice, firstly, will be served and, most
importantly, that healing will take place, allowing each and every one of us to
exhibit the virtues of strength in adversity, patience and tolerance as a buffer
to the unkindness of this life”.
The psychologist referred to Psalms 46:1, which says God “is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”.
Miller said she visualised Taylor-Israel’s beautiful smile “that permeated the darkest of situations because now, in hindsight, I am mindful that many times, in an effort to make it through her day, to perform her job with excellence, she mastered the art of wearing her beautiful smile, where probably there should have been a frown or a tear.”
The psychologist said there are many questions without answers and this could cause sorrow to linger longer.
“God is still God. And he is still in control,” Miller said.
In answering the questions of how to move on from the tragedy, Miller urged the persons at the vigil not to allow hate to win.
“Love conquers all. Love will continue to win even in death. Because God is love and our faith tells us that He reigns supreme that he conquered death and the grave,” she said, adding that there is reason to be hopeful.
What face does abuse wear?
Meanwhile, Senator Debbie Charles,
parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Education, said that Taylor-Israel’s
death suggested that she had been a victim of abuse.
“I want also for us to
think of other persons who are suffering from abuse at home, abuse at the
workplace, abuse in the community, because when a man picks up a gun and kills
his wife, it is saying that abuse has been happening all along. It didn’t start
on Thursday last,” Charles said
She asked the crowd what the face of an abused woman looks like.
“It looked like Taylor’s — a beautiful smile,” she said, adding that most people walk around with hurt and think they can find someone who is qualified to help.
“And I’m saying to us women, I’m saying to us girls, do not allow your situation to overwhelm you. Do not sit and think that there’s no one who cares. There are persons out there who care. You only have to look close enough to find someone in whom you can confide; someone who can help you through your difficult times,” Charles said.
The senator expressed condolences on behalf of the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Charles said that Taylor-Israel was among the first Cuban nurses who came to SVG amidst a serious shortage in 2002 and lived near her (Charles’) mother in Montrose.
“So, it pains me because I have had a relationship with this woman,” the senator told the gathering and encouraged them to be resolute even as they are saddened.
“We have to think of how we are going to assist because crime is not just for the government…” she said, adding that everyone must play their role.
“Let us do what it takes to ensure that the scourge of violence against our women, against our girls ends with this one. Let us make this — Taylor’s death — not in vain so that each of you, each of us, will know what our responsibility is as of tonight and we work to ensure that violence against women, against our girls, end as a result of this one,” Charles said.
‘Let love prevail in our hearts’
Meanwhile, Minister of Health, Senator Luke Browne said that to the vigil was held to celebrate Taylor’s memory and to say her death was not in vain.
“Instead of cursing the darkness, we decided to rally in our numbers to light a candle and, simultaneously, to send a message about what we find to be acceptable in our society, and what we find to be unacceptable and the kind of country that we are fighting to create.”
Browne said that news of Taylor’s death pierced his
heart because they had a special and personal relationship as she assisted with
his summer programme.
“So, this is not something that is in the distance; this is very close to me. And this is something which touches home,” he said.
“We have to do all to make sure that we do better as a society and to remember that love is the answer. Let love prevail in our hearts and let it guide all our actions, and then we’ll be able to solve all the problems of this world,” Browne said.
He said that Taylor-Israel’s killing deprived the hospital of an excellent nurse [and]… two young boys of an outstanding mother, who worked hard for them, and who did her best for them.
“And this is a cost to society. Let us work together to make sure, as has been said, that she did not die in vain and that we celebrate her memory. We celebrate her life, and we ensure that we push and we press so that justice will prevail in these circumstances.”
After Taylor’s death, it emerged that she made at least three visits to the Questelles Police Station during the last five days of her life, telling them that her husband, who had a licenced firearm, was threatening to kill her.
Rest in Eternal Peace Sweet Soul.
Your death will make a difference in my beautiful country land of the blessed- SVG.
This is the saddest funeral I have ever seen in a long time. I could not stopped the tears from flowing for this poor family. Boys are left without their mother , because of the lack of the rights that women is given in saint vincent by the police force. Shame on the system you all have there.
This is indeed a very sad moment in our beloved country. One may asked themselves, did it had to resolve to this. When some hooligan, some weak, coward and reckless person walked to a secondary school and emptied his firearm on his wife killing her without remorse what should we make of it. Maybe we might say that it could not have been prevented but at least measures should have been in place to ensure the protection of this woman especially that previous reports were made. We cannot treat violence against any person in SVG especially against women and children as just another incident. Serious measures needs to be put in place. We need a domestic violence Act, a protocol and a policy. The police needs to be guided as to the way to deal with reports and incidents of DV. Heavy penalties needs to be attached. This act of violence should have to place in SVG. But what is sad is that you will have some lawyer who will go into court and try his or her utmost best to put this man back into society. This beast needs to be put away soonest and I do hope it happens.
1. There is a Domestic Violence Act that clearly details the procedures and policies. The question is why wasn’t it followed?
2. Like any other profession, a defence lawyer ought to provide his/her client with the best defence. Stop beating up on lawyers for doing the job we have studied so hard for. I opt not to do certain matters but does that make me a bad human being if I decide to defend this man?
R.I.P. This is eternally sad. I hope this marks a turning point in sadistic predatory behavior in SVG men. Lawlessness has become the order of the day, there is little or no respect for other people’s rights. Other people have the right to life and liberty just like yourself. You cannot always have your way. This is deeply saddening and sickening. Condolence to the family of the deceased for your loss, have courage, you are not alone in this.
Her killer should get a very long time behind barz. The man is a cockroach.
This is what you call selfishness, two children are left mother less.
there is a message to be heard here, why is it allowed to carry a firearm in public because you have a permit to have one,
are we at that level of civil unrest? this is 2020 why still condone the wild wild west actions.
i start off with a partial blame to the gun permit laws in the land.
a gun permit should should be used to protect your property and not be carried in the streets. there is no civil war or threats that require a gun.
Ari, you made a huge difference in your adopted homeland. Thank you for caring for sooooo many in my homeland. Rest in eternal peace, until
I penned a piece a few weeks ago about women getting together to demand justice from abusers. Little did I know that this horrible incident will take place in broad daylight before many onlookers? Women still have time to get changes to the system in SVG. No one not even a police should carry a gun in the open. Permits should be issued for home and business protection, not to go around as if it’s OK Corral.
What is the NDP saying about these abuses? Will things be different under their government, or will it be the same old, same old?
The ball is in the women’s court and they have to do something and say something. They should keep marching until they get some result and action from the government and police.