Condemning PC Anson Benjamin’s killers as cowards, Anglican priest Sherwin Dickerson yesterday urged mourners to leave his murder in the hands of God.
Speaking during Benjamin’s funeral at the St Paul’s Anglican Church, San Fernando, yesterday, Dickerson said: “God don’t sleep so let us leave this in His hands. Make peace with God. Nobody knows who is next so every day that we see a new day give thanks.”
As the body lay in a casket covered by the TTPS flag, Benjamin’s children — Arion, Terrel, Aaron, Faith, Anson and Luke — wept loudly.
“Daddy, daddy, don’t go daddy,” the youngest child, Luke, cried.
Benjamin’s common-law wife Cherrie-Ann Foster fainted.
His brother, Dr Kerry Benjamin, said he was devoted to Foster after he ended his relationship with his first wife, Valerie.
“The mistake that led to the separation from Valerie lends credence to the statement that to be human is to err,” Kerry said as he delivered the eulogy.
He also admonished the Government for its failure to deal with crime.
“To the decision-makers, I beseech you to the stop the trying to decide what to do about the crime situation and just do what has to be done. Lock down our borders. We do not manufacture guns and bullets in Trinidad and Tobago,” he added.
He also had a message to the “cowardly killers”.
“I hope you have come to the understanding that the person you murdered came from a background of poverty and hardship but he chose hard work as his way out,” Kerry said.
He added: “I hope you would have taken stock of the fact that you have left four sons and a daughter fatherless and at risk of becoming negative elements in society. I hope the Holy Spirit of God will convict you and cause you to repent of your sins and to turn from your wicked ways so your soul and our nation can be saved.”
He said Benjamin got baptised at the start of this year and was devoted to his family. He was known by his childhood friends as Breeze, “Benjy” by his colleagues and Anson by everyone else, Kerry added.
Senior Supt Irwin Hackshaw, who delivered an eulogy on behalf of his colleagues, said Benjamin never looked at his profession as a task.
He was recognised for his humbleness, his passion and his integrity. He was favoured by all,” Hackshaw said.