TRibute by his friend jay
KENNETH BUDHOO
Early last evening, I received a text message that left me questioning, placed my mind in a state of denial and sent me on a spree of uninterrupted telephone conversations hoping that the news I received was incorrectly transmitted.
While many had not yet heard, it was undeniable and painfully confirmed true that my neighbour, fellow villager, a friend and classmate of my sisters, my wife's first cousin, also a first cousin to my sister-in-law, ARNOLD KENNETH BUDHOO had passed away.
Kenneth is survived by his loving wife Indra and their two children, Justin and Ashley, his parents Uncle Issac and Aunty Jam along with his siblings Irene (Liz), Vicky, Maureen, Lynette, Doris and Lionel.
Kenneth was the maternal grandson of Lizzie and Macketh Chickrie of Bush Lot and the paternal grandson of Jane and David Budhoo of Alness. He was the maternal nephew of Esar Chickrie, Eva (Jilwah), Iris Etwaroo, Narine Chickrie and Zara Deonarine.
He was, along with my elder sisters, cousins and fellow villagers, among the first batch of students to attend the newly opened Central Corentyne Secondary School at Bush Lot in 1968. Earlier this year, when my cousin Rafiek (Bob) Hasnudeen (Kildonan) passed away in Minnesota, I reflected upon the good times we shared and Kenneth featured prominently in those memories. In the late '70s, we hung out with Bob, Kenneth, Malcolm Moonsammy, my Brother "Fat Boy", Banga and a host of other young men in between our house at Bush Lot and Bob's home at Kildonan.
His was a very special and unique relationship. Despite the difference in age, we the younger boys melded in with him and Bob as if we were equals. I recall Kenneth's presence and interactions with my neighbours, the Molais. They were very close. He referred to the boys as he knew them, "Bumboor", "Kinch" etc.
Moreover, family and relatives mattered most to Kenneth. He had an unenviable relationship with his siblings and a very special bond with his cousins. He was particularly close with his cousin, Raymond Ramphal. They lived as brothers.
Many years after his high school days, Kenneth still cherished his classmates, Heteshwar "Big Singh", Stanley Lambert, Lyndon Ross, William Kyte, Narine Ramjas, Ann Goorwah, Leoni Davidson, Jocelyn Rose, Chandkumar, Hardat, Denny and Raymond Ramphal Shakuntala, my sister Datsy and others.
The last time I met Kenneth was at Sippian Drepaul's viewing, perhaps a mere month ago. I can still recall the conversation with him, myself, Isaac (Jason) Goorwah and others. We lamented the seemingly untimely passing of Sippian and reminisced of so many things but mostly about Bush Lot area and the people. We talked about health and aging. He enquired about Issac's recovery from his surgery and let on about his own health issues. Kenneth had never been more open. Looking back, I now feel that he was accepting of his state and condition. As I left that evening, I wished him a good time with his cousin (my Brother in law) Raymond Ramphal in Saint Martin.
May God give his family, relatives and close ones, patience and strength to cope during this difficult time. May he be granted peaceful rest and eternal bliss.
Thanks for the memories Kenneth, you will be missed!
