December 31st 2022 will forever be ingrained in the minds of the Ramnarace and Belisle families. While most others were celebrating New Year's, these families had already begun mourning the loss of brothers, 38-year-old Jon Ramnarace and 29-year-old David Ramnarace, affectionately called "Mikey."
15 days later, they would be hit with another loss, the death of Jon's wife, 38-year-old Vivian Belisle Ramnarace.
And today, these families held a memorial service for three of their loved ones at the Hilltop Basketball Court in Belmopan. It wasn't like the traditional funeral - there were no sermons or hymns - just family and friends remembering the good times they had with Jon, David, and Vivian, while listening to some of their favorite songs.
Courtney Menzies was at the ceremony today in Belmopan, and has this story.
The body of Vivian Belisle Ramnarace - a mother, wife, and lover of the sea - laid inside this casket, ready to be buried, while the cremains of her husband and brother-in-law - Jon and David Ramnarace - were kept inside these much smaller wooden boxes.
It was a memorial service for three members of this family, whose lives were callously stripped taken away on the last day of 2022.
The venue in Belmopan was packed with everyone whose lives these three people had touched - whether family, friends, or coworkers. And though they had started coming to terms with the death of the brothers', they'd expected Vivian to be there with them - sitting in a chair, not a casket. And so, the service began with her eulogy, written by her mother, and delivered by her sister.
Vashti Belisle, Vivian's Sister
"In second form at Belmopan Comprehensive School during career week, she told me she wanted to be a marine biologist. I told her, Vivian, you don't even know how to swim. So, every Saturday, our family, Nestor included, went down to Young Gial Bank where her dad helped her to learn how to swim."
"She did her diving certification through UB at Calabash Caye. At this time, she chose the University of Hawaii at - to do her Bachelor's Degree in Marine Science."
"Vivian met Jon Ramnarace again in 2008 and quickly fell in love and it was right after she had sworn to stay off relationships for a while. They got married on 20th, June 2009, and from three pregnancies, Kait-Lynn was the miracle baby."
"In the latter part of last year, Vivian got a loan for a Master's program online for the area of sustainable development. This she had recently started in November 2022. Next year, she had planned to go to London to pursue a second Master's in International Law of the Sea, but all these plans came to a halt on 31st December, 2022 when a gunman entered their home and cold blood murdered Jon and his beloved little brother Mikey, also shooting Vivian and Mikey's girlfriend. Vivian succumbed to those injuries on 15th January, 2023. Although this is not this is not the outcome we expected, God knows best, and we are grateful for the 15 days God gracefully gave us with her."
And in Vivian's last 15 days, she spent it planning the memorial service for the two people she loved dearly. She'd already written what she would have said about Jon and David, which was read by her other sister:
Vania Simms, Vivian's Sister
"My love, January 2nd, 2023, would have made 15 years together. 15 years since we first started dating, 15 years from our first kiss. I didn't know that we would fall in love so quickly, after one week, we said, 'I love you,' and by the end of January 2008, we both knew that we would marry."
"When we got married in June 2009, I not only gained a husband, but a family, including three new brothers, the youngest Mikey. Mikey was ever so humble, sweet and quiet, I gained a sweet little brother."
"It hurts me that both of you are gone now but know that you are both together and if anyone truly knew you both, the journey ahead would be filled with adventure and lots of loud laughter. Our greatest accomplishment and product of our love is our miracle baby, Kait-Lynn. I saw a big change in you, my love, when she was born."
"Mikey was a father figure to Kait-Lynn, helping her with school and various activities, so much so that he rejected jobs to take care of her without us knowing. Jon and I would discuss that if anything happened to him, he wouldn't worry because he knew Mikey would be there for her. I didn't think in my wildest dreams that I would lose both of you at the same time, that Kait-Lynn would lose both her father figures."
But Jon and Vivian's love story wasn't the only one told today - David's niece also recounted how he and his girlfriend, Yeni, would go from a fiery exchange to lovers.
Mikey's Niece
"It would start off like any other day, you get up, go to work as usual, 12:00 rolls around, you head to your usual spot for lunch. But on your way, this big ol' white Chevy just barely misses you. Shocked, you heatedly exchange words with the driver, but somehow, he seems calm, and almost somewhat amused. This would be the first time Mike and Yeni would meet. A year after this exciting interaction, Mike and Yeni would officially meet in a more cordial setting, the Kingdom Hall."
"Some would say it was the universe or God that brought Mike and Yeni together, because not long after, Yeni would start Bible studies with my granny."
"And this would be it for a while, just them enjoying the ride, until an unfortunate shift in both Mike and Yeni's lives. Mike was grieving the loss of his mother and Yeni was struggling with some hardships of her own. But this bad moment for them only strengthened their bond and love overflowed. Yeni would be the shoulder for Mike to cry on, and Mike would be the reassurance and haven for Yeni."
But it wasn't just family who remembered them - so did coworkers and classmates who'd eventually become close friends. Jon and Vivian's former bosses spoke of their work ethic and dedication to marine conservation:
Valdimar Andrade, Exec. Dir., TASA/Jon's Friend
"Jon had a solution for everything an he was also set to find some solutions for our tourism and sustainability program. As time passed, it became clear that technology solutions were needed to augment our coverage for our enforcement, science, and tourism in our blended finance and adaptive management approach for our work within the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve."
"I eventually reached out to Jon based on discussions with one of my directors who confirmed Jon's role in all the technology work in conservation. I remember the day I called Jon and ask him if he would consider to come and head up our enforcement technology solutions program. It was like giving him wings and berth to fly."
Beverly Wade, Former Fisheries Admin./Vivian's Friend
"Vivian played a key role in the delivery of Belize's conservation milestone obligations under the blue loan and conservation financing agreement, commonly dubbed as Belize Blue Bond."
"She had a way with networking and building consensus with all stakeholders which saw her as being central to the institution of most policies and management interventions in the sector. Vivian was unique. She was one of the few persons that could have sit down with developers, fishers, government, and the conservation community and on a particular initiative and see positive results. She was genuine and came with no agenda except that of the common good."
Mikey's Friend
"David was an old soul trapped inside a young man's body. He minded his business and listened to his music and if you'd leave him alone, he'd probably be wearing a pair of overalls, sitting in a rocking chair, grow out his beard, have a pipe and a flask. His mannerisms would be completely unrecognizable from a senior citizen, to the point that he even danced like he was a member of the senior steppers."
"It was a great privilege to have known these two individuals combined in one body because not everyone who knew Mikey would know David, and not everyone who knew David, knew Mikey."
Now as the Belisle and Ramnarace families put their loved ones to rest and continue the grieving journey, their only hope is that justice will be served.
Kelvin Ramnarace, Jon & Mikey's Brother
"We now have to watch the authorities and how they treat this case. Unlike my good sister in law, I am not the optimist. I honestly hope the authorities does right by Vivian, Jon, and Mikey."
Vivian's Sister
"Justice for Vivian, Jon, and Mikey."
The alleged perpetrator of this triple murder, police corporal Elmer Nah, is currently on remand at the Belize Central Prison.
