Minister: Brasso families trying to heal

“I know all of the police investigations have to take its natural course, but they too are waiting to bring some closure and begin the healing process again.” Samuel was speaking to reporters before addressing the launch of the Brasso Seco/Morne La Croix Police youth Club post Christmas concert at the Brasso Seco Community Centre, Paria.

The event, held in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Band, sought to restore a sense of kinship in the far flung rural community following the gruesome murders of Irma Rampersad, 49, her 14-month-old granddaughter Shania Amoroso, and family friend Felix Martinez, 51.

The trio were abducted on October 26, 2014. Rampersad’s daughters Felicia, 17 and Jenelle Gonzalez, 19, the baby’s mother, who had also been abducted, were later found in a shack in the Lalaja Forest on November 14. The sisters are currently in a safe house.

Azmon Alexander, 29, and a 17-year-old co-accused have been charged with killing Rampersad, her granddaugther, and Martinez. Samuel said on Saturday that the burial of the victims will bring much needed closure not only to the families, but to the entire Brasso Seco community. He said the healing process was already taking place.

“It is slow, but it’s coming together. And people are settling down again with the arrest of the perpetrators. It has caused the community to strengthen their connectivity so that nothing of that nature would happen again,” Samuel said.

Samuel noted the social department of the TT Police Service has been working closely with the community as well as the families of the deceased.

“It is necessary to do what we can to restore this camaraderie and fellowship because if we don’t do that we will find ourselves in difficulty down the road,” he said.