Photo: Derek Carroll

The Bahama Journal - Five years after their sons disappeared and their remains recovered in a remote area in Grand Bahama, the families of Grand Bahama’s missing boys can finally have a gravesite to visit and get the closure they sought the boys’ remains were laid to rest following a solemn service held on Saturday at Community at Heart Tabernacle.

Four small blue caskets, each adorned with a large bouquet of white and blue carnations, lay closed containing only the remains of four lives cut short. Next to the caskets were framed portraits of the boys – DeAngelo McKenzie, Desmond Rolle, Mackinson Colas and Junior Reme, whose disappearance captivated a nation and made international headlines.

Photo: Derek Carroll

Choked sobs mingled with affirmations of praise from family members filled the room as they heard from various ministers of the gospel and education officials about the lives of their adolescent boys who went missing during the months of May to September 2003.

Tributes through song and dance from an all male quartet and a pantomime duo reflected the depth of how many persons were touched by the missing boys.

Reverend Peter Pinder in his sermon told the congregation that even though many would not understand why this had to happen to the young boys, the missing boys’ case did change the way the nation views children.

"We might not fully understand why things turn out the way they turn out," Reverend Pinder said.

"But I can tell you brothers and sisters that the situation with the missing boys ought to have changed our attitude and how we look at children and how we treat children and not only that, but the direction in which this country is going," he said.

Photo: Derek Carroll

Reverend Pinder told the congregation that God is calling the nation’s attention to the crime situation affecting the country. He said people are afraid because of the high crime rate.

"I am not convinced that more policemen, and more police cars and equipping policemen with guns and equipping policemen with bullet proof vests and by giving them more equipment will solve the crime problem in this country," he said.

"I am not convinced that the FNM government or any other government that may be elected in this country can deal effectively with crime. The PLP tried and failed, the FNM tried and failed. It is time that we recognize that the answer lies in what we do with our boys, in teaching our boys and teaching our girls the word of God. Only God can save this nation," he said.

Reverend Glenroy Bethel, whose group Families for Justice, has worked closely with the families in petitioning for their sons’ remains, told the audience that it was his hope that the boys did not die in vain.

"Parents take an active role in the lives of your children. Take time in getting to know them, know their friends, know their schedules and spend as much quality time with them as you can for tomorrow is promised to none of us," Reverend Bethel said.

Photo: Derek Carroll

"I would also like to [take] this opportunity to challenge the policy makers of our nation and the wider community on an issue that I am very passionate about and that is justice. Justice is not just for one but justice is for all. What is the price of a young man’s life? What is the value of his life in this community? Do you know his worth? Today, the community is at a loss because they will never know. They are deeply saddened and heart broken over the way they left … they left behind pictures, memories, thoughts, and questions: how would he look after five years?" he said.

Jake Grant was the first boy to go missing but his body was never found and no one was convicted for his murder.

However, police got a breakthrough in the other cases when Cordell Farrington, a warehouse worker, later turned himself into police.

Farrington, who is convicted of the 2006 murder of his lover Jamaal Robbins and is incarcerated at Her Majesty’s Fox Hill Prison, is still awaiting trial for the four murders.

In earlier interviews with the Journal, the mothers had insisted that closure and justice seemed elusive with them not having their sons’ remains and no trial date set.

Member of Parliament for High Rock Kenneth Russell, admitted to the Journal on Saturday that complete closure for the families can only come when the trial and sentencing take place.

Photo: Derek Carroll

"This occasion means that they can now feel confident that the remains of their sons will be laid to rest today but closure will not come until the whole ordeal is over, that is the trial of the accused and the overall sentencing should he be found guilty," Minister Russell said.

"There is still one boy that has not been accounted for and I am hoping that some time in the weeks, months or years to come, or somewhere along the line, that we find closure [for him and his family]."

Photo: Derek Carroll

Jake’s mother, Bridgette Grant, did attend the funeral.

The minister also said that the delay of having the remains turned over was due in part to having them tested in the U.S. He said that the government was happy to see that the families got the remains.

"I know that over the past year, the prime minister was asking over and over what was the delay in turning these remains over to the family. And I am just happy that was able to happen and the families were able to put their sons to rest here in Grand Bahama and to put them to rest where they can go to visit every now and then and enjoy the memory of their children," Minister Russell said.

Photo: Derek Carroll

At the graveyard, there were once again subtle contrasts between hope and despair and what was and could have been. As the four caskets were being prepared for burial, four brass players from St. Georges High School – all former classmates of Desmond Rolle played quietly in the background. Had Desmond been alive he would have graduated with them.

The caskets were laid next to each other and interred at Grand Bahama Memorial Park.

Each of the boys’ pastors, Bishop Lonford Bethel, Reverend Pharnes Louis, Father Reginald Demeritte and Reverend Pinder, spoke a few words as they committed the remains to earth with the mothers and their relatives watching and finally getting the release they had desperately longed for.

Photo: Derek Carroll

Photo: Derek Carroll