Speakers at Rock Gutter Memorial Service urge forgiveness

Forgiveness was a common theme from multiple speakers on Sunday, January, 12, 2025, during a Memorial Service to mark the 10th anniversary of the Rock Gutter tragedy, which claimed the lives of seven young people.

On January 12, 2015, the students were among 21 passengers in a mini van travelling southwards from the village of Fancy, to get to schools, including the Georgetown and North Union Secondary Schools and the St Vincent Grammar School.

The vehicle in which they were travelling went over a steep embankment at an area between Fancy and Owia, known as Rock Gutter, claiming the lives of the seven students, two of whose bodies have never been recovered.

The service, h eld at the Fancy Government School on January 12, 2025, was one of two memorial activities held in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the treacherous waters along the coastline.

Speaking at the event, Simone Ballantyne, mother of one of the children who died, echoed the call for forgiveness, which previous speakers had also spoken about.

Although Ballantyne never really got closure in the death of her daughter, Simonique Ballantyne, whose body was never recovered, she urged other relatives and parents to forgive.

She said when parents sent their children to school on January 12, 2015, they never expected such a thing to happen.

Although a decade has passed, Ballantyne said the tragedy still hurts, but “we have to forgive.”

“Forgiveness is the key,” the grieving mother stated. The bodies of her daughter Simonique, and another student, Chanstacia Stay, were not recovered from the choppy waters.

She said the tragedy of losing her beloved daughter was so hurtful, that “I almost let go of God”.

The mother said, however, that she is encouraged by the story of Job in the Bible, and is able to press on.

Ballantyne also used the opportunity at the service on Sunday, to appeal to people to make it right with God.

Junior Bowens, the father of Raquel Ashton, said he remembers the raging seas on that fateful day when his daughter died.

“Ten years after, we are still coping with our losses.”

Although the deaths were considered sudden and untimely, Bowen said, “ we have to come to accept our losses”.

Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, who has always been supportive of the families in Fancy, also spoke at Sunday’s memorial service.

“I remember the day vividly,” Gonsalves said. On that day 10 years ago, as Minister of Finance, Gonsalves said he was preparing to deliver the Budget address when news of the accident was received.

On account of the tragedy, the Budget address for that year was shifted to January 26, one day after the funeral for the five children in Fancy whose bodies were recovered.

Calling the name of each victim, the Prime Minister encouraged the nation to “treasure them for as long as we live.”

He said the tragedy of that day made “a deep wound. It has been healed, but scar remains in the minds and in the hearts”.

In expressing condolences to the families in Fancy, Opposition Leader, Dr Godwin Friday said “my heart is with you”.

He also offered a prayer of solace for all the people who were affected by the Rock Gutter accident.

Sunday’s sermon was delivered by Pastor Ethron Bowens, who is originally from the community of Fancy. The students who perished in the incident were : Chanstacia Stay and Simmonique Ballantyne- whose bodies were never recovered, as well as Racquel Ashton, Annique Alexander, Glenroy Michael, and brothers Jamall and Jamalie Edwards. The memorial service was preceded on Saturday, January 11, 2025 by a vigil at the site where the bus went over the embankment into the sea.