Senior manager of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) Derek Hooker who was killed after being shot outside his home on Monday is to be emulated as he stood for truth.
That was one of the accolades given to the 54-year-old father at his funeral service yesterday at the Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, Cipriani Boulevard, Port-of-Spain.
One of the people who spoke was his Christian brother, Emrol Gould, who told the mourners they, like Hooker, should stand for the truth. He added that may be a threat to others that were not so minded.
"Did we lose a man that stood against wrong-doing?" Gould asked the congregation, adding the killing of Hooker would not shake society, although it should.
He also likened Hooker to Christ as he demonstrated qualities similar to the Messiah in that he was virtuous and faithful.
One of Hooker's daughters, Fereyce Armour, said her father did not deserve to be gunned down in front his home but prayed that he found peace.
Hooker's sister-in-law, Carla Hooker, was more jovial, saying the avid footballer and a supporter of Germany in the sport said Hooker as a child used to steal the meat out of his siblings' plate after distracting them.
She said Hooker and his wife, Bernadette, were to be surprised with a 25th wedding anniversary gathering followed by a second honeymoon to Barbados. He was not a lover of material things, she said, a statement repeated throughout the service.
Another one of Hooker's daughters, Akiesha Danzell, said she had to respond to text messages from residents in the district for water even after learning that her father had died.
She said that was a testament to the man he was. Danzell said her father was so considerate of others he was responsible for the rains on Tuesday as he wanted others to have water.
The final speaker, Elder Claude Gamiette, told the congregation Hooker would have asked for the killer to be forgiven as he (the shooter) did not know what he was doing, similar to Christ's request on the cross.
He assured the family of believers they would once again see Hooker once they believed in Christ.
According to police, around 6.30 pm Monday Hooker had just pulled into his yard when he was approached by a gunman.
Police said as he was walking into his home the man shot him in the face twice and left. He was taken to the St James Medical Centre and then transferred to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he died around 9.30 pm.
Speaking with the T&T Guardian yesterday corporate comminations manager of WASA, Daniel Plenty, said Hooker had power over recurring expenses but mostly emergency cases and not contracts.
He added Hooker had no control over major contracts within the authority. However, he said, senior managers had some leeway in executing work but that was limited in terms of size and scope.
Homicide Bureau are continuing investigations into the killing.