Tonight, the city of Belmopan is still mourning the tragic and violent deaths of the Ramnarace brothers and Jon Ramnarace's wife Vivian Belisle Ramnarace.
Their deaths have shaken the capital's residents not just because of the gravity of the loss, but because these 3 people known to be upstanding citizens were taken out like narcos or gagsters. For that proud community, it's a signal that no one is safe.
But last night those fears were put aside if only for a moment as the city came together to remember and honour the Ramnaraces: a man, his wife, and their little brother. 7News was at their alma mater, Belmopan comprehensive High and tonight we're bringing you just a snapshot of the private and public grief that's still being felt for the Ramnaraces
Belizeans got to know John and Vivian Ramnarace shortly after New Years Eve when it was reported that the couple, along with brother and brother in law, David Micheal Ramnarace, were brutally gunned down at their home in Mayamopan
Since then we've found out more about who this couple was and what they stood for as professionals and as people.
And last night as Belmopan mourned the losses of three people they called hometown family we learned a bit more about how Jon and Vivian got their start as a couple.
Glennis Johnson, Red Cross
"Vivian joined the Red Cross family as a volunteer from 2006 and it was as if she was staff, always present assisting with our national society work, especially during disaster relief."
"Pretty soon, John appeared at our doors and offered his services as a volunteer as well, we believed that he was following Vivian but later it became evident that it was indeed his motive."
"To us that is where Vivian and John met and in front of our eyes we witnessed the start of a beautiful relationship which blossomed into love and marriage."
But Vivian was also beloved in her work circle where he boss Beverley Wade addressing her co-workers last night, described her as both singular and unforgettable.
Beverly Wade, Fisheries
"The guys who are behind there that Vivian used to beat up on dominoes on a regular basis, threaten them with her little knife, not sure if you all know about her little knife, but we know about her little knife and her signature red lipsticks, even on the seas you know Vivian would be on a boat and she would be there with that very bright vibrant red lipstick, her big, hair, her totally intoxicating laughter, and just being a good person to be around."
Indeed many in the conservation space are adamant that Belize understands what a great loss this has been not just for Vivian's family but for the environment because she had made and was expected to continue to make silent but powerful moves for conservation.
Jamal Galvez, Manatee Man
"Vivian to me is the champion amongst man and woman in conservation, nobody can question her character, her dedication, she was just that person you know you can call on, and for me she was my trusted ally in the fisheries department. She really gave me hope in terms of making policies pass and doing the right thing for the manatees."
"This year, you'll start to hear the motions about Ocean heroes that are supposed to come about and we should have given her her roses while she was alive and we failed her in that sense but it's not too late and as the nominations are passed if her name is not on that list I have little to no interest in who is the Ocean hero."
And What about David Micheal, Vivian's beloved brother -in-law. He's often referred to as his older brother's sidekick but a close friend stepped up to tell the city about the two side's of his friend.
Friend of David Micheal
"When I was asked to say a few words about David Micheal I could immediately hear him screaming, ahh, whe you ah say bout me."
"One side of David was like an old soul trapped inside a young man's body and he had this way about him where he was very traditional he very much was someone who was like an old man who would sit in his corner mind his business and no fast with nobody and really only focus on the things that he found important and everything else and then you had the other side of David that in a sense you could compare to someone like PeterPan where he never really grew up."
"He did not have any aspirations to ever leave Belmopan that I would know of because he always wanted to be very close to his family. It's hard to come to grips with the fact that not everyone gets to grow up, not everyone gets to grow old."
And, later in the evening when Plus TV's Luis Wade took the stage he turned back to the infamous surveillance video of the murder on Belen St. telling the crowd that while it's release may have been painful for the family he thinks it just might be the catalyst for change.
Luis Wade, Media Personality
"They knew that if they released the video we could become sufficiently angry and disturbed to do something about it. We need to know as a nation that there are violent people among us that care nothing for human life. We need to know and understand the extent of evil that exists, among us, among us so that we can do something about it, we cannot now, ever again say I didn't know Belize was so bad you saw it for yourselves, the question is what are we going to do about it. Open your mouth and speak, open your mouth and demand justice. Open your mouth and call for the arrest and charge of Vidal."
"Open your mouth and call for the removal of the DPP because in the biggest case ever, in the biggest case ever she has to recuse herself."
Indeed, for many, Belmopan is forever changed because what was thought of as the shining city on the hill no longer has what residents thought was a safe remove from the carnage of random violence:
Jackie Burns
"Let's keep the pressure on them, make them understand that they killed one ah fi we Belmopan family, and we no di tolerate that. We want justice, we are angry."
"We had such a great loss and the only way I can see that we will be able to heal is when we know the the people who took our loved ones, the loved ones that we sacrificed so that we were able to earn better justice in this country, that their killers were brought to justice."
But with Vivian, the only eyewitness to the crime, having succumbed to her injuries, the goalpost on justice has moved.
And indeed while the Belisle's and Ramnarace's pray for a miracle, as we found out last night,
Corporal Nah's family is on the ground taking action and finding thier own evidence for an alibi.
And the NTUCB tonight released a statement mourning the loss of all three Ramnaraces but placing particular emphasis on Vivian who they call quote: "An impeccable public servant who had contributed immensely to our country's development." The Union says that the loss of their valued member has quote,: " left a void in the hearts" The release then goes on to join the rest of the country in condemning the quote: "gruesome murder." They demand investigation, prosecution, and punishment for those responsible.
