The people of Promosa were shattered by the murder of Bayzid Mohammed last Wednesday (29 January) at the Promosa Supermarket and Takeaways, and many fear for their safety.
Ezean Bennito Raats, a fellow community member of Promosa says that after this incident he no longer feels safe. “I’m fearing for my life each and every night since that incident. What happened really touched me deeply. That man was the nicest Bangladeshi guy that always treated his customers like family,” said the heartbroken Ezean.
Devlin Baard, also a community member of Promosa further says that what happened is painful, that as people, we wake up in the morning to make a living for ourselves so we can provide for our families, but then someone can just take a person’s life just like that. He further mentions that he and his family aren’t safe anymore, whether it’s at home, in town, at work or even in Church. “So to me, it’s only God’s grace that pulls me and my family day-by-day,” said Devlin.
Nonetheless, even in the midst of fear, the community of Promosa came together to pray for the crime in their society.
Melvirine Veldschoen, a concerned member of Promosa said that collectively as a community, they are very concerned about what has occurred in Promosa over the last 4-5 years. Therefore, Melvirine thought of the initiative to conduct a Mass Prayer gathering, as she noticed the increasing rate of crime in Promosa.
As an alarmed member of her community, she and other community members decided to fight crime through prayer. Therefore, on Monday (3 February) evening, fellow residents of Promosa gathered at Casper’s Shop (Tumelong 2 Supermarket & Takeaways) for their Mass Prayer.
“A place that we once called safe has become so very dangerous.
“We have come to realise that we have to stand up, and ask the Lord to help us. The word of the Lord says if my people who are called by my name would humble themselves and pray, the Lord says I will heal their land,” she said.
She encouraged fellow community members to not grow tired but to rather stand together against crime for generations to come.
Melvirine further expressed her appreciation of their community leaders and pastors for their support and efforts, especially Cllr Glenville Fransman.
Pastor Frieda Fiellis from Promosa also mentioned her appreciation for Fransman, for the initiative driven by him for calling for a prayer by the community after the passing of the Bayzid Mohammed.
“We trust that this corporate prayer initiative will be followed by many more and that even the youth of Promosa will see the need to engaged in meetings of this nature,” she said.
Pastor Fiellis also quoted the scripture reading that Melvirine referred to.
2 Chronicles 7:14 King James Version (KJV)
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Fransman pleads with the community at large to take a stand against crime as the responsibility lies with us as fellow residents. He also encourages residents to get involved in neighbourhood watches as community members all need one another.
He further mentions his gratitude for all those who attended the Mass Prayer respective of their beliefs.
