Life after loss: Cops help relatives of Tobago murder victims heal

ALTHOUGH Tobago has gone two months without a murder, the damage done by an unprecedented 25 murders for 2024 has left families grappling to come to terms with their loss.Understanding the importance of healing, the police's Victim and Witness Support Unit, Tobago division, felt that the pain and hurt of such traumatic incidents needed to be addressed.

As a result, Life after Loss, conceptualised by Davarelle Cipriani, brought murder victims' loved ones together for a day of healing and togetherness.

The event, which was held in collaboration with the THA Division of Health, Wellness and Social Protection, took place on December 16 at Merci Buccoo, Buccoo, Tobago.

In a telephone interview with Newsday, Cipriani said, "Life after loss was conceptualised after the unprecedented uptick in homicides in Tobago for 2024. Tobago had not fallen victim to the national surge, but 2024 was different where we noticed 150 per cent increase, which is unheard of in the Tobago space.

"What we recognised at the Victim and Support Unit was that the more victims that we saw, the families that we saw, they struggled quite a bit with coming to terms with that reality – because it's such a foreign concept to the Tobago space.

"We needed to find a way to help persons deal with the tragic loss, as a community."

She said many Tobagonians celebrate Christmas and "seasonal depression is a thing."

She added, "We felt it necessary to continue giving that support to our clientèle, by giving them that space to see and be with persons with similar feelings, to create that community...

"We wanted to hold their hands and be in solidarity with them and show them there is life after loss."

Among the speakers at the event was clinical psychologist Dr Alina Williams, who spoke about how to navigate grief and trauma. Acting Asst Supt Dirk John and Supt Mark Anthony Joseph also spoke.

There was also a candle-making exercise, supported by Tobago Wick, where victims could make memorial candles to remember their loved ones.

There were also activities for children, teens and adults, culminating in a dinner.

Hampers and tokens were also distributed.

Deputy Chief Secretary Dr Faith BYisrael gave her division's commitment to the initiative in a speech.

She said, "When I heard about it, I thought, 'That is a really good idea, why didn't I think of that?"

She said the attendees must be commended for taking part in the initiative.

"Give yourself a little bit of grace. It's allowing you to recognise you went through something that is probably the most difficult thing ever. I can't even think about how you are feeling.

"So when you find yourself having difficult moments, and when you find yourself not being able to get up and smile like everybody expects you to – that's fine; because you are going through this and you do not need to beat yourself up because you have not gone through the process as quickly as people expect you.

"Yuh bawl down the place today – no scene; yuh happy today – no scene; yuh vex with everybody the day after that – no scene; because it's all part of this process that you have to go through to get to the point where you kinda, maybe, somewhat okay."

Cipriani said the Victim and Witness Support Unit was started in 20018 with just six people.

"We now have a complement of 38 persons with the unit. We've seen about 37,800 clients in that time."

Asked how the unit goes about providing assistance to the public, she said, "Officers would reach out to us. We have trained personnel in social, scientific, psychology, therapeutic counselling. We have a host of persons in that field to provide that trauma-informed care, as long as persons are receptive and willing to accept the services.

"It's not just homicides, it's persons who suffered any sort of traumatic crime."

Asked whether the Life after Loss initiative will be replicated in Trinidad, Aisha Corbie, head, Social Support, Victim and Witness Support Unit, told Newsday, "That is something we are exploring. We would be doing a review of it and seeking to have it replicated in other divisions across Trinidad."

She said they would be looking to tweak it wherever possible to maximise its impact.

She said support from stakeholders across the country would help achieve their goals.

"Certainly, the team has the skill set and capacity to deliver such a project in different divisions. The team is immensely dedicated to the cause.

"We are always open to partnerships with stakeholders. Crime as you know, and the impact of it, affects us all. We're happy for partnerships with different stakeholders. If we have corporate support and funding we can do more of these programmes. We have ten police divisions...."

She said people need help given the number of murders in the country.

"Persons impacted by homicide have been a growing number of our client population, so we have been seeing where with the persons impacted, there are a number of primary and secondary victims outside the household of the deceased.

"When you don’t deal with this trauma there are too many scarred persons walking about. There is only so much of a healthy life they can lead."

She said apart from potential clients being referred to them by investigating officers, she said the unit scans the newspapers daily to identify cases where their intervention might be required.

The Life After Loss initiative was overseen by assistant head, social support, Kirk Pierre.