Trinidad and Tobago: Local athlete and barber Shaquille Benjamin commits suicide

The Cunupia community is mourning the untimely death of 23-year-old Shaquille Josh Benjamin, who is celebrated as a promoter, barber, fitness trainer model and local athlete.

Respected for his prowess in the field as well as hailed for his work off the pitch, Benjamin was nicknamed ‘the black Poet’. He died tragically by hanging in his apartment, much to the dismay and disbelief of his colleagues, relatives, and the native community.

Promising athlete Shaquille ‘Manny’ Benjamin was noted for a recent performance in track & field where he was part of the Trinidad and Tobago Carifta team – a much competitive event for young regional athletes of the region.

In sports, he was fully committed and even in his academic life he proceeded to explore his interest in sports as he received an associate’s degree in Sports Studies from the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT). He was an athlete and had excelled in his sporting activities earning him a pride within his society and was perceived to be among the young promising stars of the society.

Besides his sporting abilities, he was a mortal man who had potent abilities in barbering and was also an entrepreneur. He was an employee at HairPort Barber Shop where he established his clients, and also had his entrepreneurship, Ben the BarberTT.

He was recognized as an expert in various fields. People also addressed him as a good barber and most of all, a hard-working one. They describe him as a young man that had a lot of dreams, dedication, proper work ethic, and almost infinite drive.

The information about his death has provoked people to mourn and to express their disbelief. Family, friends, clients, and others who respected the youth have joined the site to mourn and offer condolences to the family of the victim. Some people are still coming to terms with the reality of losing Benjamin while others are deeply saddened as to the pressure and challenge that Benjamin may have been bottling, that led to such a decision.

The death of Shaquille Benjamin also raised a reminder for the alarming fact that more needs to be done regarding mental health advocacy and patient care especially in a generation that witnesses young people succumbing to extreme stress and depression.

The community has been shaken to the core and therefore paid their respect with a look at the memories of the talented and loved young man, Shaquille Benjamin.