News
Young Family Murdered in Dock Yard, laid to Rest
By Deandrea Hamilton and Dana Malcolm
Editorial Staff
#TurksandCaicos, December 19, 2022 – Chilling screams echoed through the hall of Bethel Seventh Day Adventist, where the funeral of almost an entire family was held on Sunday (December 18); the grief simply gut wrenching as a father, his toddler son and the boy’s pregnant mother were laid to rest.
The mass funeral practically unheard of in the TCI was held at the Maranatha Academy hall of the church, rekindling the emotions once news of the horrifying event emerged. Shots fired at the unsuspecting family, having no care for the children in the vehicle the murderer or murderers’ riddled it with bullets. Everyone was hit, only a little girl survived.
That heartless attack, on October 31st claimed the lives of pregnant mother, 35-year-old Phenix Gertrude; the father,
As three stark white caskets sat at the front of the chapel it was an extremely somber affair for the remaining loved ones.
Attending the service was His Excellency Nigel Dakin, TCI Governor. But notably and disappointingly absent was any elected government official.
Deputy premier E. Jay Saunders faced tough questions in late October when he flew to the US and attended the burial of Kent Carter, an American who was killed in the Turks and Caicos. Carter’s last act said to be one of heroism as he threw himself over his girlfriend and saved her life was mirrored by the elder Cesar who threw himself over his son in an attempt to save his life as well.
It’s not clear why none of the officials attended or have yet acknowledged the funeral, the circumstances of which rocked the Turks and Caicos and made international headlines.
As the family tries to find peace, they and residents are also waiting for the contents of the internal review promised regarding the TCI Police response time in the incident which was discovered by residents 12 hours after it occurred.