Memorial tribute to boat tragedy victims

Manama: A solemn gathering of relatives, wives, colleagues and friends paid tribute to the 58 people who died in the Bahrain dhow accident of March 30, in Manama on Saturday evening.

British Minister of State Dr Kim Howells, Bahraini officials and ambassadors stood shoulder to shoulder with labourers at the cross-community memorial service as the names of the victims were read out.

Fifty-eight candles inscribed with the words "In Loving Memory, March 30, 2006" were lit to mark each life lost, in front of framed photographs of the dead.

Mostly Indians and Britons died when the traditional boat, which had been chartered for a company dinner cruise, sank off the Manama coastline. Seventy-two people survived the disaster.

Four speakers, who summed up the feelings of those affected by the accident, addressed the memorial, organised by a committee of community leaders and employees of the companies who lost their staff.

Reverend Alan Hayday spoke of the need for all those affected to unite in their grief and support one another.

He said the deceased came from more than 15 countries and noted that the event was the first time that enabled everyone to come together to remember the victims.

Vijay Kumar, priest of the Hindu Temple, also addressed the audience, alongside Brian Bruce and Keith Clark, CEOs of two of the companies affected.

"It is humbling to see how the community has acted and are continuing to do so," said Keith Clarke.

"The people who died deserved the tremendous dignity, compassion and pride with which this community handled the crisis."

"We often place our trust in others and when that trust is broken, we are devastated," said Brian Bruce, another CEO.

"We are seeking the answers on who was responsible and we will get the answers and always remember those who died in the cycle of life," he said.