BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IT was a sombre evening of reflection into the life of 19-year-old Seccada Garroden, a young basketball player from the Sandy Point community, who lost his life in a triple-vehicle road accident last week.
A large crowd of family members, friends and residents of the community gathered at the Sandy Point Hard Court last evening (Oct. 8) to pay tribute to the young man, described as an all-round athlete who loved to encourage his friends in doing good.
Teressa Wyatt, a member of the Sandy Pointers Inspiring Real Improvement Throughout (SPIRIT), which organized the candlelight vigil, told SKNVibes that the event had attracted a very large turnout from the community in a show of solidarity.
She noted that it took a situation like that for everyone to get closer – not only family members but also the community.
“I think that it was really good last evening, and really touching,” she said.
Though the atmosphere was sombrous and with the customary songs of praise to the Lord, Wyatt noted that the vigil showed the togetherness and strength of the people of Sandy Point to join together for the occasion.
According to reports, Garroden was returning home from a basketball game on Sunday (Oct. 1) when the bus in which he was travelling collided with another vehicle.
According to a police statement, the accident occurred at around 10:26 p.m. on the island’s main road in West Farm and had involved passenger bus HA413, motorcar P4795 and motor jeep P5904.
It stated that initial investigations revealed that HA413, in which Garroden was a passenger, and PA4795 were travelling from Basseterre, while the motor jeep was travelling in the opposite direction when the accident occurred.
That incident reportedly left the local basketball fraternity and the Sandy Point community in shock.
Wyatt explained that a number of those who turned up at the vigil had shared their thoughts on how they felt; all of which were well received.
“I think that it was an atmosphere where from now on, we are going to be cherishing our people and want to be strong as a community,” she said.
Paying tribute, Wyatt stated that though she had not known the young man personally, but found that from research and listening to comments from people “he was a fun-loving person and cared a lot for others”.
“One of the things he cared about is fellow brothers…he would get upset if they would smoke or get involved in any incidents of that nature. He was a very positive youth.
“He was very good at sports, all kind of sports – not just basketball. He also played handball and football. He was very athletic and most people knew him as being a well-groomed, well-mannered young man who would be greatly missed in the community.”
Seccada Garroden will be laid to rest on Thursday (Oct. 12) following a Homegoing Service at the the Sandy Point Playfield.
