Trinidad and Tobago: Blanchisseuse hails its community hero Kerron Joseph

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago: The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) visited the Blanchisseuse constituency, where residents hail fallen fire officer ‘Kerron Joseph’ as the ‘Community Hero’.

According to the TTPS, the recently concluded Blanchisseuse town meeting turned into an outpouring of love for slain Fire Officer Kerron Joseph, who was killed on August 11, 2023. The meeting was held at the Blanchissesue Community Centre on August 28.

In honour of the slain officer, the Blanchisseuse Police Youth Club Leader, WPC Roxanne Squires, shared that the Blanchisseuse Community Police were continuing the work that was being championed by Officer Joseph. A sports and fun day, which was being organised for August 27, was cancelled due to the untimely passing of Joseph.

The Police Service has further stated that the fun and family day will now occur on September 17 at the Blanchisseuse Community Centre in collaboration with the North Coast Village Council.

Member of Parliament for Arima, Penelope Beckles-Robinson, also attended the meeting and saluted Joseph. MP Beckles-Robinson shared that “Kerron was forthright and a passionate leader.”

She had “no problems in recommending when he expressed his desire to become a fire officer.”

Kerron’s brother and sister-in-law also spoke about the work that he did within the community and hoped someone else would take up the mantle to continue his work.

Senior Superintendent of Police, North-Eastern Division, Mervyn Edwards, joined in the tribute, sharing that media personality Sharon Farfan shared with him that Kerron would often call her when he needed the lights to be turned on in the community for sporting activities, and she knew him as a community leader.

The Senior Supt shared that the meeting was the first for the year at Blanchissesue. He said that his officers were there because the once peaceful, serene and loving community was receiving some disturbances, with eight murders occurring in the Blanchisseuse community for the year to date.

The Police Service also mentioned that the Senior Superintendent explained that he had assessed the resources of the station and had transferred officers to the Blanchisseuse Station to boost the strength of the station. He also acquired two vehicles for the community for patrol duties, and he added four soldiers who would provide additional support and joint patrols.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), North-East, Oswain Subero, also shared his contact information with residents, stressing privacy and confidentiality. ACP Subero shared that he was from a village not far from Blanchisseuse called Morne La Croix, and he was pained by the recent loss of life in the community, many of the residents known to him.

The ACP vowed to spend some time in the community to ensure that the tide would turn on illegal activity in the area. He also committed to providing footballs and other sporting gear to help revitalise sporting activities within the neighbourhood, sharing his hope of seeing five-a-side football matches in the community.

This sentiment was also endorsed by the MP Beckles-Robinson, who said, “Culture, sport, continuous involvement between police and community are all things that can help restore the peace and tranquillity to the community.”

A call was made for the community to find their next Kerron Joseph, someone who would stand up for their community.

On Friday, August 11, 2023, police officers responded to a report of a shooting at Upper O’Connor Street, Blanchisseuse; on arrival, they observed Kerron Joseph, with gunshot wounds, lying unresponsive. Kerron Joseph was 38 and was laid to rest on August 19.