Tragedy Hits Webster University Leiden
February 1, 2011
Hemeyal Martina. Photo by Malia Bloeden.
On Saturday, January 29th we received the terrible news that Hemayel Martina, undergraduate student in the International Relations program, has died. He had just returned home to Curaçao from South Africa where he was on a Webster University internship. He wanted to spend some days on Curaçao to celebrate his mother’s birthday before returning to South Africa when he was involved in a car crash on Saturday morning and died shortly after getting to hospital. He was one of Curaçao’s most promising young poets and writers and had just started on a successful artistic career with poetry performances accompanied by live music, publishing his poetry and quickly becoming a role model for young people on Curaçao. He was a promising IMBS (International Management and Business Studies) and International Relations student and very engaging young man. He had so many friends and will be dearly missed. Students, staff, and faculty here in Leiden are devastated, and so is the team he worked with at the NGO in South Africa. We have all lost a very talented and kind friend.
Jean Paul van Marissing, Webster Leiden’s director, writes from the US:
While landing in Wahington DC on my way to Webster St Louis (Sunday afternoon local time) I just learned the terrible and devastating news; a tragic car accident in Curaçao that has led to the death of Hemayel. I am in shock and disbelief.
On Monday some of Hemayel’s relations will come to our campus before leaving for Curaçao. Jacques Kaat will speak to them on my behalf. We will be in close contact and will soon decide how our community can pay tribute to Hemayel.
I apologize for not being there at this tragic time. Hemayel and his family are in my prayers.
Jean Paul van Marissing
I too was stunned when I heard this tragic news. I spent many hours in the library when I was teaching at Webster last Summer and I often chatted with the gracious, smiling Hemeyal. It’s hard to believe that such a wonderful person has been snatched from this world so prematurely.
My condolences to his family, his friends and tutors at Webster and my Wester colleagues. I’m far away from you but very close to you in thought.
Gosh this is too tragic. We’re so sorry to hear this. All our prayers are with the family and friends at a time like this. Such a sad story of such a promising youth.
Hi,
In January, I lived with Hemayel for three weeks in South Africa.
I had the honor and pleasure of interviewing him about his approach to writing poetry, and his collection, Worried Ancestor Rest In Peace (Ansestro Preokupá Sosegá). Here’s the interview:
http://www.LeeBobBlack.com/interviews/hemayel-martina
Blue skies, Lee