Senior Reporter
shane.superville@guardian.co.tt
The officiating minister at the funeral of Diego Martin murder victim Savanna Dyer appealed to young people to slow down and be wary of people who have nothing to contribute to their lives or well-being.
Bishop Andrew John, who delivered the sermon at Dyer’s funeral at the West End Christian Fellowship Church, Diego Martin, yesterday morning, said while he understood the impulsive, fast-paced activities often associated with youth, life was not “running away” and there would be enough time to enjoy all that the world had to offer.
“The word for today is slow ... slow down. Where are you going? Life is not running away from you,” he said
“I cannot blame you for it because I myself felt that way too. The things I did were so foolish when I was young, so I can’t blame you for it because I passed through it when I was young but I can advise you to slow down.”
John urged mourners to leave behind people who were harmful to their health and development. Describing such people as parasites, he said there was nothing to gain from having such people around and they could cause more harm than good.
“There are some people who are in your life they just suck you and kill you. Don’t let them suck you dry when you know they have nothing to give you,” he said.
“Get rid of the waste in your life, there’s some things you don’t need, and there’s some people you just don’t need in your space.”
John also lamented the spate of crime in T&T, noting that while each country had its fair share of problems the disregard shown by criminals was unacceptable.
He recalled a recent encounter with a gunman who approached him while he was driving. John said he was prepared to knock down the would-be attacker if the situation had escalated.
“My car became my weapon because I told myself it’s not one that’s going to die here today, it’s two of us that is going to die here today.
“I just lunged at him with the car and he threw himself out of the way with the gun giving me enough time to go on my way,” he said.
“I never catered for something like that. Even as we sit here today in this celebration of life, we never catered for anything like this, unfortunately it happens not just to her but to many people and therefore we must always be alert.”
Dyer’s body was dumped in an abandoned lot of land on Xeres Road, Carlsen Field, on June 14. An autopsy concluded that she died from a single gunshot wound to her head.
On June 21, Laventille security guard Kibwe Wells was charged with her murder. A second man who was arrested in connection with the murder was sent to the St Ann’s Psychiatric Hospital for assessment.
Police sources confirmed that the man was discharged from the hospital on Thursday and charged by police that afternoon. He was expected to appear before a magistrate yesterday. Dyer’s murder prompted shock and outrage on social media with many people calling for justice and an end to crimes against women.
At her funeral, friends and relatives wore t-shirts and decorative buttons with her photograph. Among the mourners was former Minister of Social Development and Family Services Donna Cox who said she knew Dyer as an affectionate young woman and felt the need to pay her respects.
“Whenever she saw me she would give me a hug and a kiss, that’s to tell you the personality and I’m so sorry that she had to have such a gruesome death,” Cox said.
“This is serious and we need to look inwardly as a society...I mean what type of children are we raising?”
Following the funeral service, the body was taken to the Long Circular Crematorium for cremation.