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alexk
Guest
Those who would have turned to social media and made a mockery of the incident involving Sgt Darryl Honore and another police officer should ask God for forgiveness and they themselves should be forgiven in order for healing to begin.
This was the advice given by officiating priest, Father Derek Anton, during his homily at Honore’s funeral service at the St Phillip and St James RC Church in Chaguanas yesterday.
He also urged the hundreds of mourners to forgive Honore and all others who were directly and indirectly involved in the incident which led to his death.
“Healing can’t come unless we forgive and forgive from our heart. Also, it is a time to ask God to forgive them…it is God’s mandate for us to forgive and love each other as He has loved us.”
Anton also urged all not too judge.
“It is not in our place to judge. Leave it to the Lord. The world may be making jokes when we are weeping and wailing ,but we have to ask God to forgive them…those who have been insensitive, insulting and trivializing - we need to forgive them and ask God to forgive them,” Anton said.
He added, “It is the only way for this family’s healing and the healing of this community and his colleagues.”
Anton also urged all to “walk away from arbitration” and embrace good, truth, holiness and righteousness.
“It is for the sake of ourselves, for the nation and for God’s sake. We need to put God at the centre of our lives and we need to follow God and keep to His Commandments. It is the only way we can have order and peace.”
In a joint tribute, Honore’s brothers, Dion and Duane, said they may or may not get justice on earth, but hope that God deals with the matter.
“We should all be thankful for knowing Darryl and we ask that everyone remembers how wonderful a person he was…sometimes good people make bad choices but it doesn’t mean that they are bad, it means we are humans.”
Central Division’s Snr Supt Imraj Balram presented a portrait of a young Honore when he passed out in 1994 to Honore’s family.
However, just before presenting it, Balram honoured the officer, whom he described as dedicated and intelligent. He lifted the framed photograph over his head and walked to the different sections of the church. As he approached each section, mourners applauded Honore, some even gave standing ovations.
Honore and another officer were involved in a shootout on May 2 at Grand Bazaar, Valsayn, just outside the Ruby Tuesday restaurant. Honore, who was shot twice in the abdomen succumbed to his injuries on Sunday night.
Noticeably absent from the funeral was acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams.