My son was not suicidal

Grieving dad Julien Celestine has lashed out at a Central Trinidad tabloid which said his son, Second Lieutenant Colin Celestine, committed suicide by driving into a PTSC bus on Monday evening after he was interrogated about the Galil assault rifle that disappeared from Camp Ogden last week. “My son was not suicidal, he loved life. “We spoke about everything from his job, getting land to build his house, even his girlfriend, and if he should be with her. We were close and at no time was he depressed or worried about anything. His main aim was to become a soldier, which he achieved. He wanted to buy a piece of land and take care of his girlfriend and child. We had already visited land sites to buy.

“During his three years as a soldier, Colin received several citations and certificates, one for the top student from all other countries at Sanhurst Military School in England for Combat and Platoon Commanding Training.” At his Clovis Trace, Maraval home, the angry father referred to an article in another newspaper which stated that Colin was somehow involved in the movement of the rifle, which was eventually found on Sunday in D’Abadie “He loved to enjoy life with his friends and family and was very outgoing. But on the day of the accident, he was tired and even said so to one of his sisters,” Julien said. “He worked on Friday, Saturday, went to parade on Sunday where he read the scripture, then rehearsal on Monday, after leaving home at 6.30 am.

He was tired. I know my son and he is not, and was not, suicidal. “I want that paper to correct the garbage they have dragged my son’s good name through.” The soldier’s younger sister Juliet Celestine supported her father and accused the newspaper of hurting her family. “My brother worked hard for his respect, all this article has done is hurt the good name of the family. I am disappointed.” Second Lieutenant Celestine will be buried under full military rites today. A funeral service begins at 2 pm at the Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in Maraval, from where the body will be escorted in motorcade procession to the front of the Church of Assumption, also in Maraval. He will then be taken in a military procession to the Military Cemetery at Long Circular in St James.