ALMOST one year since she buried her son, Allan Lane Ramkissoon, bereaved mother Christine Ramkissoon is facing one of her most difficult days - Mother's Day.

Instead of bringing joy and happiness, this day will be filled with sadness and sorrow for Christine for her son whose life was cut short by a fatal industrial accident.

She said he son was a child who religiously bought her gifts and a new dress and pair of shoes to go to church every Mother's Day and on Christmas Day, with her family.

Ramkissoon, 35, a pipefitter with Massy Energy Engineered Solutions Ltd, was carrying out maintenance work at NiQuan Energy on June 15, 2023, when there was an explosion at the plant. He died at a specialist hospital in Colombia, where he was flown for emergency treatment. He succumbed to burn injuries, three days later June 18, Father's Day.

It took over a month for his body to be repatriated and he was finally laid to rest on July 24.

His younger sister, Ruth Lane Ramkissoon-Balgobin told the Newsday that as Mother's Day and the first anniversary of his death nears, the pain and grief they felt when they lost him, has found its way to the surface once more.

'Not a day goes by without us remembering him. We can't get over his death, but we are trying to heal and move on and not dwell on our loss.

'It hurts. It really hurts. Time has not lessened the pain and grief. '

Observing that May 12 will be Mother's Day, she said the anguish is almost insurmountable.

'He was the one who usually bought a dress and shoes for our mom to go to church. He would always buy her a comfortable pair of shoes or sandals because she suffers from arthritis and has challenges walking. He also bought gifts for all his sisters who are mothers.'

Asserting that they are a strong Christian family, she said for the first time, that her mom, overwhelmed by sorrow, may miss the Mother's Day service at church.

'It is very hard for my mother who does not believe she may be able to attend church on this day. My father, Danny, is also suffering because Allan died on Father's Day, last year.

'Last year, Dad got a gift from Allan, although Allan was not there to give it to him. There would be no gifts this year for either my mom or dad and Allan would not be here either."

Ruth said the only gift they want is the gift of life.

'We wish Allan could be here with us today.'

She said the financial difficulties in which NiQuan Energy has descended with its mounting debt, and pending petition to wind up operations of its ill-fated Gas to Liquids (GTL) plant at Pointe-a-Pierre, has also been a taunting experience for the family

Ruth said Niquan has never contacted her family or informed them what happened on that ill-fated day when her brother was fatally injured.

'I see this trouble with Niquan, as the 'hand of God' intervening in a company that has been unfair and unjust to my brother and our family.

'What is happening is my just and loving God doing his work.

'When I heard the news, I was like, God I don't know what you are doi