The nation of T&T needs to be fixed from its head straight down in light of its poor judicial system.
These were the words of Pastor Kelvin Bhagwandeen yesterday, as he delivered a fiery, dynamic and “real” message to the scores of mourners who turned up to pay their last respects to slain MTS security guard Carlene Grant at the Carapichaima Community Centre.
Grant, 45, was on night duty at the Waterloo Community Centre on Tuesday night when she was confronted by a man who stabbed then beat her with a sledgehammer.
In delivering his sermon yesterday, Bhagwandeen, pastor of the New Beginning House of Praise, said it was a sad thing where “straight forward” cases enter the justice system and are faced with many obstacles, including long trial periods.
“Cases like this (referring to Grant’s murder) should not have to go through no trial when there is all the evidence and witnesses. It is a sad thing when the courts will decide to send them (accused people) to St Ann’s for evaluation to determine if the person was crazy or not. But they surely knew how to premeditate on it,” Bhagwandeen said.
He questioned how many people ever got prosecuted for their crimes, adding in most cases years pass and nothing comes out of the matters, while grieving families are not be able to get the justice they truly deserve.
“When they write up that the person is crazy, they will get a good lawyer to get the person out. But I tell you today, it is the act of the Devil. I believe in when you do the crime, you pay the time. I believe in touch not the Lord’s anointed. We don’t have to take revenge, God will,” he added.
Bhagwandeen said that it was time for the country to get a wake up call.
“The laws of the land are slacking, but the laws of God are still operating and they will never escape.”
People who tote the Holy Bible and go to church also got a shake up from the pastor. He said carrying a Bible in their hands and dressing up to go to church will not get them to heaven.
“What makes you a believer and a child of God is your lifestyle. Develop a praying relationship with God. Your heart must be pure and your mind must be fixed on God. God will teach you not to hate your neighbour but to love them, so the more you pray in this country the less crime it will have,” Bhagwandeen said.
“There is no more sweet T&T. The nation is crying and there is need for a change, a turn around of the country. No new political party or new government can do that. Humility is everything.”
Bhagwandeen, who knew Grant very well, described her as the perfect example of how a parent should be.
“She worked hard for her children and encouraged them to pray and go to church,” he said.
In delivering the eulogy, Grant’s mother, Ingrid Driggs, said her daughter always wanted to see her children happy.
Grant’s daughter, Milikka, meanwhile said the situation was a hard one to face but promised to always remember that special joy that her mother had and gave them.