SXMElections.com

PHILIPSBURG--A large section of the country was plunged into mourning on Saturday when bike patrol Police Officer Gamali “Benji” Benjamin succumbed to injuries he sustained when he was shot while responding to an armed robbery at Oro Diamante on Front Street on Wednesday, August 5.

He passed away peacefully at St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC). Justice Minister Dennis Richardson said on Sunday that Benjamin would be buried with “official honours.”

As word spread of Benjamin’s passing, some persons visited SMMC, while scores of others turned to social media to express their sadness. A large majority of the Facebook posts from residents at home and abroad were about Benjamin. Some persons changed their statuses to black and others to photo(s) of the slain officer and messages of condolences.

Chief Prosecutor Karola van Nie said this was the first time local officers had had to deal with the loss of one of their colleagues in the line of duty. She said the incident had affected everyone, including the Prosecutor’s Office, as Benjamin had been a “highly respected” officer.

The flags at the Government Administration Building and the police station were flown at half-mast out of respect for the Benjamin’s passing. Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs said the flags would be flown at half-mast at all public buildings until the day after Benjamin had been laid to rest.

Several persons issued press releases over the weekend about Benjamin’s passing. In a release, Richardson said that on hearing the “disheartening news,” he and Gumbs had visited SMMC immediately to pay their respects and had tried to comfort the many family members and colleagues who were clearly in soul-wrenching pain from Benjamin’s passing.

“Officer Benjamin’s shooting and his subsequent passing have come as a severe shock to his family, the St Maarten Police Force and the community at large, and will undoubtedly have an effect on many lives for a very long time to come,” Richardson said. “The whole community is hurting as a result of the death of this broadly beloved, respected and dedicated officer of the law.”

He said Benjamin, “who has fallen in the line of duty demonstrating bravery above and beyond the call of duty, will be buried with official honours and with full support of the Government of St. Maarten. Over the coming days the Minister and his staff will be coordinating closely with the St. Maarten Police Force and the Benjamin family in preparation of Officer Benjamin’s funeral.”

Richardson said that despite the “pain and anguish,” with which members of the Police Force had been faced this past week, “the Force continues to embody professionalism and is making strides in resolving this case while continuing to serve and protect the St Maarten community and the island’s many visitors.”

In a separate release Gumbs said Government would do everything in its power to see that justice was served.

“Never before have we been faced with such a tragedy. Never in our island’s history have we seen our local law enforcement forced to say farewell to one of their own, taken from us in the line of duty. And never before has it been more crucial that we come together as a country to ensure that justice is served,” Gumbs said.

He urged persons aware of any detail, no matter how unimportant they might think it was, to step forward. “If you doubt for an instant your ability to make a difference to this community, I ask you to consider your parents, your friends, your siblings, your loved ones. … This could have been any one of them, any one of us.”

Both Richardson and Gumbs extended condolences to Benjamin’s family, friends, colleagues and the people of St. Maarten.

“My heart is heavy as I offer my family’s and Government’s deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Officer Gamali Benjamin,” Gumbs said. “Officer Benjamin was firstly a son, a father and a husband to those who loved and knew him best, and this is a profound loss that no parent, child or spouse should have to suffer.

“I would be remiss, however, if I did not also offer condolences to Officer Benjamin’s colleagues, his second family, at the KPSM. There is a deep bond shared between those who have pledged an oath of service together, one that many cannot understand, and I wish you all strength and the Lord’s guidance as you continue to personally and professionally experience this sudden loss. We know that you will stop at nothing to bring justice to Officer Benjamin’s legacy.

“To the community, I wish us all the peace and strength during the days, weeks and months to come.”

Gumbs said Benjamin had been a kind, engaging and peaceful young man. “This country is a dimmer place without his presence and I deeply mourn that fact. We must keep this spirit, his spirit, alive in these difficult times, or his life and his service has been given in vain.

“I call for St. Maarten and for our neighbours to the North to remember Officer Benjamin respectfully, safely and peacefully. Remember his goodwill, remember his dedication to his duties; hold these memories in your heart as we face the coming days as one country, stronger together.”

In a release, the South Reward Community said it condemned “the act of violence” that had led to Benjamin’s death and said the late officer had been highly respected and loved by many on the island.

“The community of South Reward extends our sympathy towards the family, friends and supporters of Officer Benjamin, including the men and women in blue. We will continue to pray for his entire family and his colleagues on the Police Force and we wish them God's strength in this difficult time.”