Glenroy Sinclair, staff reporterTears flowed freely and uncon-trollably yesterday, as Constable Basil Black, formerly of the Hunts Bay Police Station in South St. Andrew, was given an emotional farewell.
Members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), relatives and friends wept from the start of the funeral service, until the casket was lowered into the grave, at the family plot in Esher district, St. Mary.
The Bethel United Church in Highgate, St. Mary, was crammed, with hundreds of mourners spilling over in the churchyard. Traffic was reduced to a snail's pace during the service.
Former member of Parlia-ment and President of the Police Support Action Committee (POLSAC) Heather Robinson, choked back the tears as she challenged the Government to compensate the dependants of police personnel killed in the line of duty, no later than three months after death.
"Let the investigation and administrative process take no longer than three months," said Miss Robinson.
There are about 30 families awaiting compensation from the Government, following the death of policemen who were killed in the line of duty.
Minister of National Security Dr. Peter Phillips while expressing condolence, told the mourners, "It is a time to remain strong and resolute. We must bring his killers and all to justice and re-double our efforts to stamp out the scourge of crime and provide all the equipment and support to the brave men and women of the JCF who have been putting their life on the line for the country."
General Secretary of the Police Federation, Corporal Desmond Roach, called on the wives, spouses, mothers and sisters to stop shielding the gunmen.
Dr. Phillips and Police Com-missioner Francis Forbes, who travelled in a Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) helicopter to the funeral, brought some positive news to the members of the JCF who were in mourning.
"This morning while coming down, the Honourable Minister asked me a significant question. He wanted to know how many bullet-proof vests are needed for every policeman to have a vest. I told him approximately 3,000," said Commissioner Forbes.
The good news is that members of the JCF will be now equipped with a bullet-proof vests from the moment they enter the Police Academy at Twickenham Park, St. Cathe-rine.
His Commanding Officer, Superintendent Newton Amos remembered him as a "humane, kind, honest, disciplined policeman who was reliable and always willing to go the extra mile."
Prior to joining the police force on October 7, 2000, the young Constable had a dream to become an architect. He graduated from Dinthill Technical High School with passes in five subjects at the Caribbean Examination Coun-cil (CXC) level.
A special musical tribute by his batch mates who graduated with him at the Police Academy, was moving. Constable Black's mother, Carmen Budho, fainted. His aunt, Florette Lue, with whom he spent his latter years in Kingston, screamed in agony.
Constable Black was killed by gunmen on April 4 while responding to reports of shooting in the Duhaney Park area of St. Andrew. Mr. Black and Corporal Kevin Chambers were ambushed by gunmen with high-powered weapons. They were shot several times, Constable Black died on the spot.
