Victim's wife sees Causeway service as `fitting tribute'
Police may be asked to shut the Causeway to allow a memorial service for Fabian victim Manuel Pacheco, The Royal Gazette can reveal.
Construction worker Mr. Pacheco, a fisherman by trade, was one of four people killed when two vehicles, including a Police Cruiser, were swept off the Causeway at the height of the hurricane 15 days ago.
His wife Monica, who also lost her home in the storm, is understood to be keen to stage some form of memorial service for her 23-year-old husband on the water "which he loved", according to close family friend Lisa Dawson.
"She is thinking about some kind of memorial for her husband," Ms Dawson told The Royal Gazette.
"Maybe having a service on the Causeway and sending out a wreath is a possibility. It is something she needs to think about and then we would have to discuss it with the Police.
"It would be a fitting tribute."
The only one of the four to have been found, Police Constable Stephen Symons, was buried earlier this week but the search for the other three, Mr. Pacheco, Nicole O' Connor and Gladys Saunders, continues.
Police are to search the rubble next to the bridge by hand in the coming days as they continue to seek a clue as to the fate of the three who remain unaccounted for.
It is understood this was revealed to ten family members of the victims at a tense meeting yesterday between senior Police officials, including Commissioner Jonathan Smith and a representative of Harbour Radio.
The search will continue for the immediate future and, if it remains unsuccessful, another meeting will be called with the families to notify them of a cut-off point for Police operations - it is at this point, memorial services are likely to be held.
Police told the families of the extent of their operation over the past fortnight, which has included searches along the shoreline at Dockyard and Hawkins Island as well as diving operations both around reefs and also boat moorings.
"The Police have been wonderful," added Ms Dawson.
"They have searched every nook, cranny and cave. But it is not an easy job for them and it is very hard for the families. It is a difficult time for everyone.
"Mrs. Pacheco is a strong girl but she is starting to break down."