Carel Brady (right), whose brother was one of 14 people killed when a truck plunged into a precipice in Fellowship, Portland, last Friday night, looks disconsolately at the crash site. - Photos by Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Bereaved family members broke down in tears during a meeting held at an abandoned church building in Millbank, Portland, on Tuesday, where funeral arrangements for 14 persons killed in an accident last Friday were being finalised.

The obviously emotional and distraught family members, who wept and moaned openly, were comforted by Sheila Neyman-Mulgrave, guidance and counselling education officer in the Ministry of Education, and Donette Hamilton, senior guidance counsellor in the parish.

"The recovery and healing process for them could take some time, as most of those who died in that accident were the actual breadwinners of their family," said Hamilton.

Two government ministers, Christopher Tufton, minister of agriculture, and Daryl Vaz, state minister in charge of special projects, who were present at the meeting, outlined some of the benefits for the surviving family members, especially children.

"The Government will be underwriting the funeral cost of the 14 deceased," said Vaz.

"A team will be set up today, which will meet with bereaved family members and various churches, so as to make and conclude the necessary funeral arrangements. Children, who were supported by the deceased will be given special assistance," he said.

Rada to assist

Persons watch the ill-fated truck being pulled from a precipice.

Carel Brady (right), Minister Tufton pointed out that the Rural Agriculture Development Authority (RADA) was assigned to look at what else could be done in terms of assisting the farming sector in the various communities the deceased were from.

"We will also seek if there are ways in which we can assist the victims and their relatives to enhance their earning capacity so that they can help to alleviate and overcome the current situation and then RADA is willing to step in and provide support. We will be guided, obviously, by the consultation that takes place," said Tufton.

While the much-needed assistance was being announced, 42-year-old Althea Douglas, common- law wife of Lebert Rogers, who died in the accident, explained that she was in no position to support her eight children, as she was unemployed.

The Ford truck that killed 14 persons last Friday night.

"He was going to market to sell produce to buy items and other things for the children," she said. "Now he is gone, and we have no hope. The children cry every night since his passing."

Rogers left behind daughters Kimberly (15), Treshana (13), Andrene (11), Roshane (nine) and Shana (seven), sons Twayne (six) and Rasheed (17), along with a stepdaughter Tara Douglas (19). The family also includes a grand uncle, Lorenzo Harris (65), who is visually impaired, and another grand uncle in 87-year-old James Harris.