By Malisa Playter-Harry
Frankie Baker still remembers the moment he first saw Liloutie, or Kamo, as she was called; it was 27 years ago at a wedding, a time of celebrations and new beginnings. For Frankie, that day marked the start of a love story.
Today, though, he bid farewell to his beloved Kamo, and her daughter who he had also accepted with love.
Kamo, in circumstances that still baffle her family, her community, and the country, last week fed her daughter a poisonous substance and then ingested some; they died on the same day – August 21, 2024.
When he met Kamo, she had two children – a boy and a girl.
But life was not kind. Liloutie’s son from a previous relationship also became ill at the age of 13, and later died. It was a loss that deeply affected the couple, but Frankie remained steadfast and brought Liloutie to No.19 village, where they tried to rebuild their lives.
Moving in with them was Davi, Kamo’s daughter, who also developed an illness and was bedridden for the rest of her life.
For 38 years, Kamo took care of her daughter – with Frankie’s support. He worked hard, even buying a car, so it would be easier to get Kamo to take her daughter for medical care.
Kamo was a stay-at-home wife and mother, something Frankie insisted on.
“I told her I don’t want you to work, no matter if I have to catch crabs to support you, I am going to work.” Frankie worked tirelessly as a government ranger, and before that, as a goods seller on his motorcycle.
For 27 years, Frankie and Liloutie shared a bond that seemed unbreakable.
“We lived together, we built with whatever little we had… whatever she wanted, I could not stop her; that’s how we lived. We lived nicely with one another for 27 years.”
Their life together was simple but filled with love. Liloutie often told Frankie that she feared what would happen to Davi if she was no longer around. Frankie reassured her time and again, promising that he would always take care of her daughter, even if it meant paying someone to do so.
Frankie described their life as one of mutual care and support. “If my head hurt, my wife was there; if her head hurt, I was there.”
Frankie said they only argued when it was time for him to eat, and he didn’t want to. And it was the same on her last day alive.
It was two Tuesdays ago.
Kamo ensured Frankie had his cup of tea, but he didn’t want to eat the “dosay” (pancakes) she made. He said he went outside to mop, as he would normally assist with chores before leaving for work.
But something did seem off. Liloutie was wearing her nightgown earlier but had changed and dressed, as if she was going out. She handed him some personal belongings and said, “Goodbye.” It sent a chill down his spine.
“Kamo, what do you mean, goodbye?” he asked her, confusion and fear gnawing at his heart.
Then she broke the dreaded news. She had given Davi poison and had taken it herself.
Frankie was stunned, unable to process the horror unfolding before him. He didn’t think about it then, but Kamo was frustrated after her daughter stopped eating a few days earlier.
Frankie tried desperately to save Kamo, squeezing her mouth in a futile attempt to force out the poisonous substance. He rushed to check on Davi but saw a green substance to the side of her mouth.
Panicked, he called for help and rushed them both to New Amsterdam Hospital. But the doctors told him what he already feared—they wouldn’t survive. Kamo and Davi died hours apart.
Frankie’s world collapsed. He had lived a loving life with Liloutie. Never could he imagine that he would be saying a final farewell today.
The house once filled with love and laughter is now dark and empty.
“It won’t be easy.”
A post-mortem confirmed Kamo and Davi died from a poisonous substance.
The mother did not want to leave her disabled adult daughter for many reasons, only a mother could know.