- The death of Sylma ‘Codo’ Thomas. A “travesty of justice.”
Sylma ‘Codo’ Thomas was her normal cheerful self on the dawn of Thursday 28th, February 2014. In the words of her sister Almida Chance, during an interview with IWitness News on 2nd March 2014, “She woke the morning and she washed. She was singing and everything- hearty and strong.” Little did Sylma, her family and friends know that her well-spent morning was about to bring her a never ending sleep the following day.
On the afternoon of the said day, members of the Rapid Response Unit (“Black Squad”), raided Thomas’s home. According to IWitness News, in an article titled “Woman dies after falling ill during police raid”, Thomas relayed to her sister Almida Chance while she was in the hospital that “ Is Bailey, he came and harass me, say they looking for guns and money.” Bailey was the officer in charge of the unit during the raid.
Long story short, Sylma Thomas fell ill in her home during a police raid on 28th, February 2014. Until this day, only Sylma, the officers that were in the house during the raid and God knows what exactly happened that brought about the sudden end of her cheerful life on earth on the 1st of March 2014.
February 28th 2024, marks 10 years since such a tragedy rocked the Sharpes Village community of Chateaubelair. 10 years onwards and the family and friends of Sylma are yet to receive the findings of a promised “independent investigation” by then Commissioner of Police Michael Charles.
Notably, this is just one of many cases in SVG, involving the police and the loss of life. Be reminded that:
On April 26th, 2020, Detective Sergeant Philbert Chambers was shot and killed during a police operation of which he was an officer on duty. The family of Chambers was promised a Coroner’s inquest, four years is fast approaching and the family is yet to receive a finding.
Also, Cjea Weekes died as a result of injuries he suffered while being chased by police. This took place on Feb 6th, 2022. Two years have passed and nothing from the inquest that was called for by the Prime Minister.
These three examples of cases involving the police, loss of lives, prolonged investigations and unfinished inquest/ investigations all make a mockery of the judicial system of SVG.
Lately, the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines police force, have been attempting to rebuild broken police and public relationships. While I applaud the effort and acknowledge the need for such, I strongly recommend the need for closures to families that loss loved ones in incidents involving the police! Or else, this attempt to rebuild relationships with the public will prove futile with a lot of grieving families, friends and well wishers who lost someone in situations involving the police.
In closing, I hope for the day when the police and the public become one again. However, the police force needs to understand that this relationship will not be fixed overnight.
Transparency is essential to positive police-community relationships. Also, when tragic incidents like the ones listed above occur, the relevant authorities should try to release as much information about it as possible, as soon as possible, so the families, friends and the community won’t feel that information is being purposefully withheld from them.
As we continue to cherish Sylma’s memories and remember her for the mother, sister, aunt, friend and lover of God she was, we are still awaiting closure.
Continue to Sleep in peace auntie Codo.
