Family of slain police officer feel neglected by the state and justice system

With three years having passed since the shooting death of Sergeant 209 Philbert Chambers, his family say they are hurt by what they consider to be the neglect of the justice system and the state.

On Sunday, April 26 2020, Chambers, 29 was killed at Campden Park while on duty. He had gone to the area to apprehend one Gleason Lewis at his home.

Shots were fired which left Chambers and Lewis dead and Constable 700 Verrol Sam hospitalised.

Shock waves from the news of Chambers death reverberated throughout the country and saw hundreds in attendance to his funeral, including the members of the Police Youth Club; former prime minister Arhnim Eustace; candidate for the New Democratic Party (NDP) Benjamin Exeter; the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Sejilla McDowall; High Court Justice, Brian Cottle; as well as a number of high ranking police officers, led by the Commissioner of Police (COP), Colin John.

However, exactly three years later on Wednesday, April 26 2023, Chambers’s family told SEARCHLIGHT that despite the immense support they received initially, it seems as if it was all just a “one night wonder.”

The family said that a coroner’s inquest into Chambers’s death began at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court in May 2022, and since then, the case was postponed on numerous occasions, of which they were informed at the last minute.

Then on March 3, 2023, coroner Rickie Burnett discharged the jury.

He told those in attendance at the Kingstown Magistrate Court that a new coroner would have to hear the matter as he may not resume his job as a magistrate at the court. Burnett has since been appointed a judge on the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

With the jury having been discharged, the inquest will have to be re-tired, even after all the witnesses have already spoken.

“I want to recognize the fact that the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines failed, because there should have been some form of collaboration; they should have known, somebody would have known…or somebody within the judicial system would have known that this was going to be left vacant and need to be filled.

“As a result of that, I argue that this is a neglect of duty,” said the brother of the deceased, Kishroy Chambers.

He said something should have already been put in place to allow someone else to take over the matter, or some other form of adjustment which would not have resulted in a re-trial.

“…I want to inform you that, from judges, to magistrates, to prosecutors, have commended the exemplary contribution that …[Philbert] made, and the changes that he’s made, in terms of how he presented himself, he presented himself like a professional; so how come now his death, that…somebody did not have the foresight and insight to think, how can I go to this family? How can I go to this family [to say] this is going to be put off again, and tell the family that this has happened, and we’re going to put something in place.”

“So we believe that the system, the whole system reflected that it was a source of a one night wonder where in a sense they say all these good things about Sergeant Chambers, but yet still, they are failing him in terms of getting this inquest completed so that the family can get some form of closure pertaining to his death,” he continued.

Chambers’s father, Calbert Bobb told SEARCHLIGHT that it will be difficult for him and his family to go through a re-trial, as they would have to re-see and re-hear the detailed evidence of the traumatic experience.

“It’s really heartbreaking. It was a long three years, and when you believe to yourself, well the thing finished, then you’re telling me now, that it have to do over, and whosoever contributed, it’s nothing much to them because they’re…working.

“They’re working and they’re getting a salary so they don’t mind go back and go back, but for the parents, it’s not nice for us because it’s more stress we have to go through…”

Bobb added that he is also displeased that the family has hardly received any visits, calls or continuous support over the past three years from Chambers’s colleagues, except shortly after his death.

Philbert’s mother, Coreen Chambers added that she is also not pleased with the manner in which information from the court is transmitted.

She said that often times, a message is sent to a police officer at either the Barrouallie or Layou Police Station, and for some reason, the information never gets to the family until at times, an hour before the hearing.

“ …They will change the date and nobody will tell us, especially the last day. Sometimes we just have to scramble. They will tell us to leave today for today, and then you will have to scramble up. Nobody would tell us that the inquiry will be tomorrow, or like a week before, or two days before…” she said, explaining that she resides in Barrouallie and transportation presents itself as an issue, especially under such circumstances.

Despite these challenges, the family said that they will continue to honour Sergeant Chambers’s legacy as someone who was passionate about his career, a family-man, an activist, and a leader.