One day after an employee of Massy Distribution was killed during a robbery in St Ann’s and a second man was injured—clinical therapist Hanif Benjamin has been brought in to counsel traumatised relatives and colleagues.
The former chairman of the Children’s Authority is a clinical and forensic traumatologist.
Guardian Media understands he would have visited the family of Che Mendez on Wednesday night, and was expected to begin working with employees of Massy Distribution yesterday.
Police said Mendez, 42, of Paramin Hill, Maraval, died after being shot in the head by gunmen during the robbery at River Road, Fondes Amandes, around 11.20 am on July 3.
A 54-year-old security guard of South Oropouche was shot in the face and about the body by the suspects who robbed them of a quantity of cash and cigarettes along with their delivery truck.
The injured man remained hospitalised in a critical condition up to last night.
Speaking with reporters at the Forensic Science Centre, Mendez’s sister Akai Webster mourned the loss of the man she lovingly described as the greatest father, husband, brother, and son.
The delivery truck driver who was said to have been part of the Massy Distribution family for the past year was labelled, “The jolliest person in the world.”
Webster said anyone who knew Mendez would agree he was always happy and smiling.
“I don’t think there was ever a sad moment in Che’s life because he took everything as a joke,” she said. “I guess that was his way of dealing with life.”
She joked, “I think Che would have invented Laugh Out Loud!”
As a dedicated father to a 19-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son, Webster said he lived to provide for his family’s needs.
Despite this, she said he was equally committed to his job and took his duties seriously.
This duty she indicated, could be what led to his eventual death as he, “Would have defended his life and job.”
She fought back tears as she asked, “Why you had to kill him?”
Webster said the suspects could have robbed the men and left them alive.
Referring to the recent arrest and charging of Canadian YouTuber Christopher Hughes also known as Chris Must List by local police for producing a seditious document - Webster said, “People fuss and had all sorts of things to say that Chris Must List could get to the gangs...but if he could get to the source of what’s happening, how hard is it for the police to do the same thing?”
Claiming the authorities had been able to track his phone during the investigation, she continued, “I am certain they know how and where to find them.”
She begged, “This needs to stop...we are not safe any more.”
Reeling in shock that her family had now become a statistic of crime as a result of gun violence, Webster urged people to act responsibly and come forward to say who was involved in crime, if they knew.
Fearful for her children, who she said are scholarship winners representing T&T in track and field in the US, Webster said this latest incident had left her encouraging them to stay abroad.
Turning her attention to National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds, she said he couldn’t be expected to do it all but at the same time, he needed to mobilise his forces and get them on the ground.
Webster added, “I am sympathetic to T&T right now.
“Left, right and centre you turn around, there is crime. I can’t do anything but feel sorry for us as a country. It is heart breaking.”
Webster is hoping to get justice for her brother’s killing, but she admitted this maybe another uphill battle.