Political community expresses shock, condolences over death of minister’s son

Political community expresses shock, condolences over death of minister’s son
Minister of the Environment and Housing Romauld Ferreira. (FILE PHOTO)

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The political community yesterday expressed shock and condolences over the death of the teenage son of Environment Minister Romauld Ferreira.

Police were investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of the teen, who was found unresponsive in his room on the floor of his Oxford Drive residence with no sign of injuries.

Assistant Superintendent Audley Peters said preliminary investigations determined the death was an apparent suicide.

A wave of condolence messages flooded social media.

Free National Movement (FNM) Torchbearers Youth Association President Carlyle Bethel offered words of consolation on Twitter.

He said the news was heartbreaking.

“My sincere condolences go out to Minister Romauld Ferreira and his family on the tragic loss of his son,” Bethel wrote.

“The news is extremely heartbreaking and I cannot imagine what they are going through right now, but I will keep him and the entire family in my prayers.”

In a statement, Opposition Leader Philip Brave Davis said he joined thousands of Bahamians in expressing “shock and sadness” at the tragic death of the son of a parliamentary colleague.

“As a parent, l imagine that the grief and sadness at the loss of a beloved child must be unspeakable,” Davis wrote in a statement.

“I pray for the Ferreira family that they may find strength, solace and comfort in the midst of this unsettling tragedy.

“I ask that the nation also pray for them and respect their privacy, allowing them to grieve in private.

“I send condolences to Romauld and the Ferreira family on behalf of my wife Ann-Marie and the officers and members of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). May he rest in peace.”

In a separate statement, PLP Deputy Leader Chester Cooper said he could not fathom the depth of the minister’s pain and asked for God to grant him strength.

“I have three children,” he wrote.

“As a parent, my heart aches tonight for my parliamentary colleague, Romauld Ferreira, on the loss of his son.

“I cannot fathom the depth of his pain.

“On behalf of myself and my family, I offer my deepest condolences to his entire family.

“May God grant them strength.

“Romi, I pray the soul of your son rests in peace and that God gives him winds to rise and fly into the comfort of His arms in heaven.”

Meanwhile, the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) also extended condolences.

“The Democratic National Alliance is heartbroken to learn of the death of Sotario Ferreira, son of the minister of housing and the environment,” read a statement.

“We extend our deepest condolences to Mr Romauld Ferreira and his family.”

On Facebook, DNA Leader Arinthia Komolafe said, as a mother, she was saddened and heartbroken at the news of the loss of a child.

She said: “It is a pain that no parent should ever have to bear.

“Tonight, I join the nation as we mourn with our brother, Mr Romauld Ferreira, minister of housing and the environment.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this dark and difficult time. We extend our deepest condolences and pray for comfort that only God can provide.”

About Royston Jones Jr.

Royston Jones Jr. is a senior digital reporter and occasional TV news anchor at Eyewitness News. Since joining Eyewitness News as a digital reporter in 2018, he has done both digital and broadcast reporting, notably providing the electoral analysis for Eyewitness News’ inaugural election night coverage, “Decision Now 2021”.