#Providenciales, March 12, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – We had to walk over shards of glass from shattered windshields, walk by broken bits and pieces of his Wrangler Jeep scattered at the scene, stand next to a crumpled rubber glove likely used in the traffic investigation and bear with the undeniable feeling of eeriness which crept in with the dusk… throngs of people most donning white and who knew and loved him marched silently to the final resting place of beloved Turks and Caicos Islands police officer, Constable 223 Mauquency Carter.
Women were wailing. Grown men were weeping. Heads
were bowed as disbelief mournfully, painfully gripped the scores who turned out
for the solemn ceremony for ‘Quincy’, as he was affectionately called.
It would take even a stranger only a matter of minutes to gain a
full understanding of the kind of man Constable Mauquency was. Listening
to the loving thoughts, cherished memories and broken hearts of those who knew
him best, painted a portrait of a man we could admire, a man of whom we could
be proud and a man who would be sorely missed for his effervescent personality.
A member of the Tactical Unit of the Royal Turks and Caicos
Islands Police, this night there would have been a unity party for the crew…
instead there was a dramatic change in the script. There was no jovial gathering, this one was
solemn but unity was still very much achieved as family, friends and colleagues
represented for their “brother’” who was described as a man full of life, a man
who lived life fully and a man who was a great father to his two sons.
His grandmother, trembled as she neared the spot where her
grandson was fatally injured when his jeep collided and reportedly flipped
over, with her ‘boy’ inside. Valeria Houseman is a strong woman, known by all as
such, but that strength was fiercely tested this evening as a candle light
prayer vigil unfolded a mere 16-hours after Quincy was pronounced dead at
hospital.
Supported by her sons and Jericho Baptist Church Pastor, Pedro
Williams Mrs. Houseman took measured steps, shaky steps and arrived with tears
streaming and clutching a huge floral wreath of blue and white and red until
stood at the ‘spot’. No easy task, yet she handled it with grace
and like a champion.
Old hymns were solemnly sung. Prayer was thoughtfully prayed and a
heartfelt message was sweetly rendered.
“I believe when we lose someone it is okay to cry. I
believe it is okay to be sad. I believe it is okay to grieve because I
believe that becomes an expression of the love, the depth of love and
friendship that you had with that person,” said Pastor Pedro Williams.
The healing process requires those expressions of grief advised
Pastor Pedro, “…but as you cry, I want you to be able to remember the good
times that you had with Mr. Carter. Remember the times that you laughed together,
the times that you sat in the police station or the police car and you
socialized in those moments of laughter, those moments of joy.”
Pastor Pedro, who knew Constable Carter personally described the
young officer as a respectful young man, who was always beaming a smile and
encouraged those gathered at the accident site earlier tonight to lean on God
for comfort.
“…But ask God to give you the strength during this time to be able
to survive and to be able to go through and to be able to move forward from this
point. Indeed
we have lost a young man with great potential. Every time I saw Mr. Carter he was very
bright in terms of laughter and the expressions on his face and being very
friendly. He
was always very respectful to me as a pastor in the community and always joyous. I
believe today he would not want for you to be sad, but even in that sadness to
let your face be radiant and to remember his laugh.”
The Police report explained that ‘Officer Carter was the driver of
the grey Jeep Wrangler that was involved in a two-car collision on Monday,
March 11, 2019 shortly after 2 a.m. on the Leeward Highway in the vicinity of
Provo Plaza. Officer
Carter was transported to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre where he was
pronounced dead at 2:47 a.m.”
Magnetic Media is informed that ‘Quincy’ suffered serious head
trauma in the accident. Images of his jeep, shared on social media
gave insight into the severity of the crash; extensive front end and roof
damage seemed to support an account that the vehicle flipped over in the
collision.
The female driver of a gray Honda car, involved in the accident,
was taken to hospital for injuries, said the report.
Police Commissioner James Smith said, “We have lost a very special
individual who will be sorely missed. This is going to be a very difficult time for
Carter’s family and for each of us.”
Certainly it is difficult, and evidence of the popularity of and love for Quincy is already apparent as nearly 200 people turned out for the 90-minute service at the scene of the traffic accident. Minister Jay Morley lent his voice to the vigil, loved ones together sang Officer Carter’s favourite song ‘Stand by Me’ as candles were lit and cell phones were illuminated in a touching tribute to a man, who even in death, has the amazing ability to draw his people together. The memorial wreath was placed at the crash site.
Constable Mauquency Carter was 29-years-old and hails from the island of Grand Turk.
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