There was an outpouring of grief from Laventille residents on Thursday as Ezekiel Paria, a 12-year-old student who was killed by a stray bullet a week ago, was laid to rest.

Mourners packed the Light on the Hill Ministries- a two-bedroom house which was converted to a church- to celebrate Paria's life.

As his body lay in a baby blue and white casket at the foot of the podium, Pastor Glenford James, in his sermon, asked, “What now, what next?”

Quoting Exodus chapter three, verse seven, James said Paria's death was far too familiar.

“I have surely seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.”

In an effort to comfort Paria's parents, he told them God knows and hears their sorrow and the painful cries of the children and parents of Laventille. He said they were crying out and Paria's death was heavy on the community's heart.

“Something is missing. We tried community policing, but things are still getting worse. We tried giving more jobs, but things are still getting worse. Something seems to be missing somewhere; we are not doing something.”

He called on Laventille and TT to turn to God for guidance.

James said despite government programmes such as the Youth Training and Employment Partnership Programme (Ytepp) and Military-Led Academic Training Programme (Milat) and efforts to provide job opportunities with Cepep and URP, the blood of young people was running in the streets.

He again questioned what was missing to stem the scourge of violence.

James said the TTPS, other arms of security, and many government agencies were trying to battle the crime situation but only God can help.

“God knows something is missing; there is something we are not doing right. He is a good god, a god of mercy, a god of grace and a god of goodness, but he is also a god who will allow stuff to happen for reasons and purposes we may not understand.”

[caption id="attachment_1066979" align="alignnone" width="1024"] GOODBYE EZEKIEL: Relatives and friends of Ezekiel Paria bid farewell to the schoolboy at his funeral at the Life on the Hill Ministries, Laventille Road, Laventille. Paria was killed by a stray bullet on February 22. - AYANNA KINSALE[/caption]

James said there is always talk of love, but all the country sees is anger, saying the “mighty dollar” was dictating people's behaviour and people were willing to do whatever it took to get it.

“Why is everyone so angry? Where is the love?”

He said Ezekiel had given his life to Christ, and he knew that the child was resting in the arms of his saviour. He called on those responsible for his death to repent, saying they would never be able to rest comfortably until they did.

The Light on the Hill Ministries youth group gave a sombre performance of Paria's favourite gospel song New Creation as Paria's aunt rested her head on a male relative's shoulder, tears streaming down her cheeks from under the dark glasses she wore.

Jeneiah Solomon of Eastern Girls' Government Pr