Eight years after Rock Gutter tragedy, community grieves again

The village of Fancy has been plunged into mourning yet another time since the Rock Gutter tragedy of January 12, 2015.

Eight years ago, villagers wept openly as they laid to rest five students who were killed when the van in which they were travelling ran off the road at Rock Gutter. The bodies of two other students were never recovered.

Anique Alexander who attended the North Union Secondary School was among the Rock Gutter fatalities, and this Sunday, September 3, the community will come together to mourn for Anique’s mother, Metheline Alexander.

“It is like we are living the Rock Gutter tragedy all over again,” Alexander’s sister Felicia Alexander told SEARCHLIGHT.

In an interview with SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday, Felicia said her sister Metheline never really recovered from the sudden and tragic loss of her 12-year-old daughter Anique Alexander.

However, she tried to make the most of life, regardless of her inner pain and void.

As part of her healing process, Metheline had migrated Tortola, and had been working there as a geriatric caregiver.

While in Tortola, Metheline died suddenly on Tuesday July 11, 2023.

Felicia said her sister’s death was as a result of a blood clot.

Metheline has two other daughters, Brenesha and Brendeen, who are both in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Her funeral service takes place this Sunday September 3, at the SDA church in Fancy. She will be laid to rest at the Fancy cemetery.

According to Felecia, Metheline had been living in Tortola for the past five years. “She was planning to come home in December for Christmas,” Felicia said.

The primary school teacher related that her sister’s death has taken another toll on the family.

There was a special bond between Felicia and Metheline, they looked so much alike and were often mistaken for each other.

Felicia recalled that her sister called from Tortola the Saturday before she died.

“We did not have a proper conversation because I was at an event, and there was noise in the background.

Felicia had promised to call her sister the Wednesday, but unfortunately Metheline was dead by then.

Metheline was described as jovial and fun loving.

Apart from Anique Alexander, students Glenroy Michael, Raquel Ashton and brothers Jamall and Jamalie Edwards were also killed in the accident.

The bodies of two other students, Simonique Ballantyne and Chanstacia Stay are still unaccounted for.