‘Thank you all’

And, he has vowed to stay strong, confident in the knowledge that Carla and his grandchildren, Kamari and Amani Collins, are resting in God’s peace.

“I believe that God has done his job,” Maxima, 64, told Sunday Newsday on Friday.

“I feel comfortable that my daughter and grand-children are resting in peace with their grandmother and great-grandmother. You can’t question God.” Police reports stated that Carla and her two children were heading to their Callis Street, D’Abadie, home, in a car driven by her husband, Keston Collins, around 11 pm on January 26, when another car, driven by Kelvin Lewis ran a red light and slammed into them.

Carla and her children died instantly after being thrown from the car. Keston, a cook in the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, survived the accident.

Autopsy reports revealed both children died as a result of massive head trauma and brain contusions while their mother also suffered severe head injuries.

Lewis, who appeared in the Arima Magistrate’s Court on February 2, charged with causing death by dangerous driving, has since been granted $350,000 bail and is scheduled to re-appear on March 2.

Maxima, in expressing thanks, paid special tribute to President Anthony Carmona, National Security Minister Edmund Dillon and officials from the Defence Force and TT Coast Guard who attended the funeral.

“It surprised me to walk into the church and see the President there,” he said.

Maxima, an ex-policeman, said the TT Coast Guard had done yeoman service “in bringing everything together.” Life without Carla and his grandchildren was tough, Maxima said, adding: “I know my daughter would have not liked to see me break down so people will see me with a smiling face.

Up to today, people still breaking down on me, so, I have to keep myself strong.” Maxima said he was particularly concerned about his son Brent, who had shared a special relationship with his sister, Carla.

“Brent has said that God prepared him to be away from Carla because he moved step by step with his sister over the years up until her death,” he said.

Maxima also thanked Brent’s employers, First Citizens, for their support.