BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, AUGUST 10TH, 2016 – Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris delivered an eloquent eulogy yesterday, Tuesday, August 9th, at the funeral service of the late Police Constable Brian Pacquette. Mr. Pacquette was buried with full military honours in his homeland of Dominica.
Dr. Harris prefaced his scripture reading of 2 Kings, Chapter 4, verses 17 to 23 with a touching remembrance of Mr. Pacquette, who gave eight years of valiant service to the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force.
The police constable died at the age of 34 on Monday, July 18th while undergoing treatment in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, for injuries sustained in the line of duty on Thursday, June 23rd in Basseterre, St. Kitts.
On Monday, August 8th, Prime Minister Harris spoke for close to 90 minutes with 29 of Mr. Pacquette’s family members in the conference room of the Dominica Public Service Union. The Prime Minister encouraged frank, cathartic discussion by the family members and clarified their concerns. Police Constable Pacquette’s mother, Yvonne, expressed her appreciation for Prime Minister Harris’ presence and the family posed for a photo with him after the meeting.
During yesterday’s funeral service at Truth and Grace Fellowship Global, a church in Roseau, Dominica, Prime Minister Harris commended the family for making a positive imprint on Mr. Pacquette, which everyone who interacted with him could see.
“I was able to see the fine gem of a gentleman that Pacquette had been moulded to be as a result of his grounding and the love and the support he has had from birth from all of you, the family members here in the Commonwealth of Dominica,” Prime Minister Harris said, as he painted a moving portrait of a deeply dedicated police officer who was also a profoundly good and decent man.
“And so I want to thank you for producing such an excellent son. One of the things that impressed upon my mind was the fact that the people with whom he resided in Ottley’s for a while had a member of the family who was differently abled, and Officer Pacquette took the time to go and engage in sign language so that he could better communicate with this particular young lady. I think it speaks volumes to the character, the compassion, the interest and caring of Officer Pacquette,” Prime Minister Harris continued, adding: “Clearly, if he was such an exceptional person off the job, we could well imagine that he carried that excellence with him on duty.”
The Prime Minister acknowledged to Police Constable Pacquette’s family and loved ones at his funeral service that the natural tendency in times of sorrow is to question the heart-breaking circumstances by saying, “if only,” for instance, “if only someone had moved faster…this man would have been saved.” Dr. Harris also acknowledged that “the act of grieving is the last act of love we can give to those who are no more with us.”
Prime Minister Harris went on to encourage all of them to find solace in knowing and accepting that “through trying times, through happy times and sad times, God is still God, and further along we get to understand some of the trials and tribulations and what God intended should be the lessons.”
Dr. Harris continued: “So to Yvonne [Mr. Pacquette’s mother] and Cedric [Mr. Pacquette’s uncle] and Grandpa, and all the group of you who stood solidly, giving tender, loving support and care to Officer Pacquette, reminding him that he was not alone, that he had a family who loved and cared for him, my prayer and my wish is that through it all you would learn even more to trust in Jesus and put your faith in Him, because ultimately He is the balm of Gilead. He is the one who turns your sorrow eventually into joy.”
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Mr. Osmond Petty, and a contingent made up of personnel from the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force joined Prime Minister Harris, the Minister of National Security, at the funeral service.
Commissioner of Police Mr. Ian Queeley led the security contingent, which included a Bearing Party that shouldered and carried the coffin, a Firing Party that fired volleys of blank cartridges, a Colour Party that carried the flag of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, a Mourning Party that included members of the police force, as well as the Defence Force Band and Drum Corps that provided musical accompaniment.
(Press release courtesy of the
