A fighter who defied hardship: Family honours MV Barima victim Omar Harris

A life marked by kindness, hard work and unwavering devotion was honoured on Saturday as Omar Harris, one of the victims of the MV Barima tragedy, was laid to rest. The 55-year-old vendor and father of four was remembered as a loving and dedicated father who gave his love unconditionally from the very beginning. A viewing was held at Ezekiel Funeral Home before he was buried at Best Village, West Coast Demerara. Delivering a heartfelt tribute, Harris’ son described him as “the best father anyone could ever ask for.” “From the late night phone calls and early morning calls, we went on vacations, we would walk in the morning and sit down and talk for hours and hours, and if anything was wrong, he was there for me. I love you so much, Dad,” he said through tears. Harris’ sister also reflected on his life, describing him as a joyful person whose family never stopped believing in him despite the hardships he faced. She recalled that the family endured an emotional ordeal when their mother received a phone call in 2016 claiming Harris had been shot and killed in Venezuela. “With all he was going through, his mother had never ever given up on Omar,” she said. Believing the report to be true, the family even prepared a death announcement before receiving another call informing them that Harris was, in fact, alive. “But I wished today if someone can call and say Omar did not drown in that boat and it was a wrong death… but no one have called to say that. Everybody only call to say, ‘RIP Omar,'” she said. Family members and friends gathered in large numbers to bid Harris a final farewell, remembering him as a man whose love for his children, resilience and warm spirit will continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew him.