Hearts burn for gifted I’Akobi
by Phillipe Aimey (www.nationnews.com)
“WOE IS ME! For my glory hath departed, and the crown of my splendour hath fallen, and my belly is burned up because this my son hath departed.”
Those were the words of King Solomon in the book Kebra Negast, and a similar feeling has overwhelmed Maggie Maloney after the death of her son.
People turned out from all spheres of society to pay their last respects to I’Akobi Tacuma Hembadoon Maloney last Thursday at Westbury Cemetery.
The procession was unfamiliar to some as The Church of Haile Selassie I conducted the entire ceremony from start to finish, noted as the first time this had been officially done in the history of Barbados.
Formerly of the St Mary’s Primary, Christ Church Foundation School, Barbados Community College and the University of the West Indies St Augustine Campus, Trinidad, I’Akobi left behind 23 years of hard work, dedication and the power of reason that amazed everyone he met.
SUNDAY SUN spent the past week talking to family, friends and those who really knew him to give a true picture of his character.
An intellectual
Delivering the eulogy at his internment was Opposition MP Hamilton Lashley, who gave testament to the individual he knew personally.
“Tacuma was a young man, exciting and articulate. He was an intellectual who exuded confidence and a level of understanding that astounded not just myself, but regional ministers. He was particularly passionate about issues related to social development and I had a vision that he would be one of this island’s leading politicians.”
Also present at the internment, his former chemistry and mathematics teacher from Foundation School. Noelle Sutherland taught I’Akobi from Fourth Form and she also lent her voice to the strength of his character.
“While I’Akobi’s preference in the academic area was for science, he was an extremely gifted student in English, poetry and song.
This exhibition winner of 2003 and son of the Foundation family will always be remembered as a bright son of the soil whose mysterious final moments will never be understood.”
Also paying tribute to I’Akobi was Marian Graham, his Spanish teacher at Foundation.
“He was a proud Rasta, a disciplined Rasta, a studious and ambitious Rasta. A Rasta more than able and willing to make a positive contribution. He was our Rasta, of whom we were very proud.
Excellent worker
More recently, I’Akobi was an engineer at the Arawak Cement Plant, having worked there for almost a year. Management told the SUNDAY SUN that he was an excellent worker and although he had resigned just hours before his death, he would always have been welcomed to return.
Many questioned the coincidence of I’Akobi’s death and his resignation happening on the same day.
Sources at the cement plant told the SUNDAY SUN that he smiled and laughed with everyone on June 17 and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
But what prompted his resignation?
I’Akobi was diagnosed with a slipped disc in his back and had been bedridden for almost three weeks. His mother Maggie Maloney confirmed this to the SUNDAY SUN.
“I was taking full care of my son for the past few weeks. I had to bathe him from head to toe and it was a joy for me to have done that for him not knowing I was preparing him for his cross over.”
He was also seeing a podiatrist for his condition.
Police encountered Maloney while responding to a call reporting drugs landing in the area. They gave their full account in yesterday’s SATURDAY SUN. They say he ran away from them and jumped over the cliff.
Rastafari have no respect for one who takes his or her own life which has caused many across the island to raise eyebrows.
Yesterday, family and friends marched through Bridgetown with placards and brochures relevant to the situation and most importantly, I’Akobi’s character.
Tributes can be emailed to justice@icarbarbados.org or visit the website icarbarbados.org/tacuma.
Tags: Arawak Cement Plant, Church of Haile Selassie I, drugs, engineer, intellectual, jumped off, Kebra Negast, slipped disc
August 10th, 2008 at 1:10 am
I agreed with you