A police post in the crime-plagued community of La Romaine is being welcomed by residents and business people outraged over the recent killing of nine-year-old Cyon Paul.
But for Safiya Williams, Cyon’s mother, the move is a little too late.
The setting up of the post in the community was announced during the police media briefing in Port-of-Spain yesterday.
The post will go up tomorrow, a week after Paul’s murder along Southern Main Road, close to his home. The child went to purchase something to eat with his other relatives when he was shot.
Still trying to come to terms with her son’s death yesterday, Williams, in an interview with the T&T Guardian at her Byron Street home, said while the post was a good idea there was nothing anyone could do that would bring back her son.
“Now they want to put a police post when I lost my boy. My son gone and nothing they do will bring back my son,” she said.
Williams, who also has a seven-year-old daughter, bemoaned the amount of criminal activity in the community. She said in recent times about four people she knew had been victims of shootings and one had died.
Again dismissing allegations that either she or her son was involved in drugs, she pointed to her home, which is in need of repair and has no running water, saying: “I am a single mother of two, I do not sell drugs. My son was not in drugs. Look where I living.
“So I cannot melt my two gold earrings and make a chain for my child. So I cannot buy a $750 sneakers for my son.”
Williams said the hand signs her son made in one of his photos was not a signature of any criminal gang.
“He just love to dress up and pose,” she said.
Asked if she wanted a police presence at his funeral service today, she said: “No, he was not a target. My son’s father was not a target.”
Describing him as a loving, helpful and caring child, Williams, who is unemployed, said: “My son use to say ‘mummy don’t worry, I will get my education and get rich and build a house for you and we will have a pool and thing in our house.’”
It was initially reported that the La Romaine RC School student was a target but investigators are now working on the theory that he was hit by a stray bullet.
Residents fearful of talking
Cyon’s death has also left the community in shock as residents described the child as respectful and helpful.
A resident, who wished not to identified, said people knew what happened but they were afraid to talk.
He said: “A rasta man and a young boy was playing with a nines (gun) on the opposite side of the road when it went off and the child get hit but everybody covering it up.”
Wiping away tears, Michael Nurse, 73, a longstanding member of the community who lives close to Cyon, cried: “What that child do so? Everyday that child go by that tree and play there. I so sick since that child die I could hardly eat. Every night I crying. That child never disrespect nobody, he was a real loving child.”
Commenting on the police post, resident Michaeline Wall said: “That will stop crime but they have to bring serious police. They should have done that a long time ago, all now so he (Cyon) would be running up and down.”
A 35-year-old man, who asked for anonymity, suggested that the post be set up at the Charles Street area, which, he said, was abuzz with criminal activity.
He said: “People with money financing the youths with gun. Is a war in La Romaine, they fighting for block.”
Businesswoman Sherry-Ann Hosein, who runs a beauty salon and spar, said she ensured her door was locked, even during business hours, and did not work late hours because of the crime situation.
“I personally think that should be a good thing because it will minimise crime and maybe fellahs out there who exposing themselves freely as gangsters will feel intimidated,” she added.
The owner of La Romaine Automotive said a post was wonderful news given the spate of recent criminal activities in the area.
“We will feel safer, expecially people with families, young ones, especially girls.”
Moses Noor, who lives opposite to where the child lost his life, said Cyon would often visit his home.
“He was a well-mannered and nice boy. The (bad) picture they painting him out to be is not the child I know. He was a helpful child in the village and loved by all. He was everybody teddy-bear,” he said.
Fluently recalling memorable moments with her son, Cyon’s mother said she had already purchased her son’s uniform and books for school.
“All I had to buy again was his bag and shoes,” said Williams, who added: “I feel I dreaming and everybody just trying to frighten me.”
She said they have printed a photo of Cyon on jerseys which they would be wearing at his funeral today. She said her son would be dressed in a white and blue suit, his favourite colours.
At the home of Cyon’s father, Sean Paul, a woman came out but refused to speak and walked off.
Profile
• Cyon was born on September 25, 2006.
• Standard One student of La Romaine RC School.
• Son of Safiya Williams and Sean Paul.
• Brother of Tyra Richards, seven.
• Lived in his deceased great grandfather’s house at Byron Street, La Romaine, with mother and sister.
• He was described as a loving, respectful, generous and helpful child.
• He had aspirations of becoming a lawyer or police officer