CherrieAnn Foster, the widow of PC Anson Benjamin broke down in tears yesterday as members of the local Chinese fraternity offered to provide long-term assistance for her and her children.
Collecting a condolence letter from Wei Xingwen, chief of administration from the Chinese Embassy, on behalf of Chinese Ambassador Xingyuan Huang, Foster tried to compose herself as Xingwen promised to provide assistance to her.
“If you ever need anything, do not hesitate to call us. We will be ready to help,” Xingwen said. Businessman Chao Yong Ke, who owns the supermarket in which Benjamin was killed, also promised to visit Foster every month. Yong Ke said Benjamin was his personal friend.
“When I had a back injury, he would personally take me to the doctor. He was a very good man and I promise that I will visit at the end of every month. If you need anything you can ask me,” Yong Ke told Foster.
The men visited Benjamin at her Stewart Street, Cocoyea, home where they also gave her boxes of food supplies.
Sobbing quietly as she glanced at her husband’s photograph on the wall, Foster said she was trying to put their lives back together. Saying she preferred to be busy, Foster said she intended to complete her seven courses before starting her nursing internship at the College of Science Technology and Applied Arts of T&T.
She said her greatest fear was that she would have to put her education on hold to work to support her children—Aaron, nine; Faith, eight; and two-year-old Anson.
Foster said she was grateful for the outpouring of support she received since Benjamin’s death. Also visiting Foster yesterday were members of the T&T Chinese Mutual Support Association including president Puy Kong Wong, district supervisor Michael Zhi Yong Luo, deputy general secretary Huaquanhuang and architect Aaron Leung.
Benjamin was shot on the head on April 4 while responding to a robbery at Chao Yong supermarket at Naparima Mayaro Road, Cocoyea. He died three days later.