By FRANCIS JOSEPH
Dead bodies, whether claimed or unclaimed, deserve dignity, prayer, and respect.
No body should be allowed to be just cast aside.
This from prominent Catholic Priest, Father Robert Christo in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
Last Saturday, two men were caught burying 50 dead babies and six adults in a mass grave at the Cumuto Cemetery. The men were taken to the Cumuto Police Station. Days later, other suspects were arrested by police as intense investigations continued. No charges have yet been laid.
Fr Christo added, “Recent reports show that unclaimed bodies including about 50 babies were nearly buried without proper dignity. This troubles the conscience of any society that claims to value life.
“The Church teaches that every human person – claimed or unclaimed, born or unborn – bears the image of God. As Scripture reminds us, “whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). The early Church Fathers insisted that even in death, the body must be treated with reverence, for it is destined for resurrection.
“In our Caribbean context, where family, respect, and “sending off”/ wakes matter deeply, this moment calls us to pause and reflect. Something is broken when bodies are left unclaimed or treated as numbers rather than persons.
What is needed now is a collective response:
* Advocacy for resources so that proper burial and care can be guaranteed for every person;
* The presence of trained social workers at the point of death, to accompany families, prevent abandonment, and ensure no one slips through the cracks;
* Better coordination between institutions to manage resources with compassion and accountability;
* Public awareness that every body – whether claimed or unclaimed – deserves dignity, prayer, and respect;
Fr Christo continued, “This is not just about systems. It is about soul. It is about who we are – Trinity people!
“If we can honor the most forgotten among us, then we are still a people of heart.
If we fail them, we risk burying not just bodies… but our humanity and soul.”
