By Gyasi Gonzales

Copyright trinidadexpress

WHILE Municipal Police Constable Jamal Charles was being laid to rest yesterday following a funeral ceremony at the Nur-E-Islam Masjid in El Socorro, one of his colleagues was being charged with his manslaughter.

Police said that Special Reserve Police (SRP) Anton Phillip, 22, of D’Abadie, was charged with the manslaughter of PC Charles, also an SRP, after instructions were received from acting Director of Public Prosecutions Sabrina Dougdeen-Jaglal who had reviewed his case file yesterday morning. It was not known if he appeared in court.

Police reported that last week Thursday Charles was on duty at the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government at Kent House in Maraval when around 3.15 p.m. tragedy struck.

Police said that Charles and two other officers were in a guard booth adjacent to the compound. One of the officers was allegedly playing with a gun which suddenly discharged striking Charles. The PC was killed on the spot.

Yesterday’s funeral for Charles was a mix of Muslim tradition and quasi-military and took approximately an hour. There were speeches and tributes that resembled that of a homily which took place in a common gathering area adjacent to the Masjid. This was then followed by a brief ceremony inside the Masjid following which Charles’ body was escorted via a quasi-military parade through the El Socorro Main Road on to the Muslim cemetery in Aranjuez.

Local Government Minister Khadijah Ameen spoke at the ceremony and promised support for Charles’ family including his fiveyear- old daughter, Blossom.

‘This was such a sudden and tragic and unexplainable loss. A person who was so full of life, who was so jolly, who was always so friendly and in a split second he was gone,’ she said.

‘We can comfort each other today and wipe our tears today but the truth is that the loss will leave a hole in the lives of those who loved him,’ she said.

She added that one could not heal from that sort of pain overnight.

She thanked the scores of officers who participated and asked them and his family to hold and love each other to keep Charles’ memory alive.

‘Cherish his memories and let this be a reminder that as busy as we can be in our jobs and our own lives how important it is to keep connected with each other because we never can tell what can happen that can make us lose someone close to us,’ she said.

Ameen also explained that the Local Government Ministry had reached out to employees of the Ministry who may be in need of grief and trauma counselling.

Speaking on behalf of the Municipal Police Service was Ag Sgt Andrea Saunders.

She stated that Charles graduated from training in August last year and in December he was assigned to the Local Government Ministry. He was described as a kind and humble man who never let the weight of the job overpower his spirit.

‘He was diligent and always willing to go the extra mile,’ she said.

‘We will always remember his infectious and genuine smile that could brighten any room and can make anyone happy. ‘In remembering Jamal, he was not just a police officer but a man who valued relationships. He will never be forgotten.