Astaphan pays homage to two law officers

By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

Former Minister of National Security Dwyer Astaphan

The words of commendation were made during the debate on the St. Christopher and Nevis 2009 Budget Address.

The Parliamentary Representative of St. Christopher Two spoke specifically of the recently deceased Police Sergeant Junior Francis and Defence Force Corporal Joseph Bergan. The former died following a brief illness and the latter was shot in the line of duty.

SGT Francis, he said, was a mentally and spiritually strong man who subscribed to the Christian faith and valued his family.

“I came to know him after our careers met under the umbrella of the Ministry of National Security and I saw him as an outstanding person and a professional. We became friends. He invited me to his wedding to his beloved Amorose Browne (which I was regrettably unable to attend); he introduced me to the apple of his eye, his daughter Josiana; and he advised me one day that he had given his soul to the Lord.”

“He was a strong man, physically, mentally and spiritually. And recently, as I was able to get a little insight into his mother, Annaley Francis, and other siblings and relatives, I came to understand where his strength of character and his spirituality had come from, and I also saw that in addition to that, he had obviously married a power house in Amorose...But he was a devout Christian, a good father, a good husband, a good son, a good brother, a good officer, and a good gentleman. And I believe that he, for sure would have smiled at that last moment and asked, ‘Death, where is your sting’?” Astaphan said.

Francis was a member of the Police Force for some 17 years and last served the people of St. Kitts while attached to the Special Services Unit (SSU). He has been described by his colleagues as being hard working and dedicated. ~~Adz:Right~~

“May his memory be preserved, may he find his deserved place of honour in the annals of policing and peace-keeping in this country. And, of course, may his soul rest in eternal peace,” Astaphan said.

Corporal Bergan, Astaphan’s second person of focus, was shot in the line of duty in December 2005. Bergan was at the time providing security for a CEMACO truck when he was shot in the neck which caused some degree of paralysis, but through hard work, specialist treatment, dedication and prayers, he has recovered much. 

Astaphan described the soldier as an extraordinary man, “...a man of faith, a man of God, a man of powerful character and magnanimity.”

“Mr. Speaker, the other person in whose honour I speak today is Defence Force Corporal Joseph Shaun Bergan, who, at the age of 33, is very much alive; thanks to God and thanks also to  Corporal Bergan’s strength of will and character and his determination to live.”

Astaphan told of the emotions he felt having heard of the news that Bergan was shot.

“Mr. Speaker, three years ago, on December 2, 2005, Corporal Bergan, then Lance Corporal Bergan, was shot in the neck. It was a Friday, and as soon as I was told of the incident I rushed to the J. N. France General Hospital where I saw this handsome, fit young man stretched out on a gurney with this gaping hole in his neck, fighting for his life. Sir, it was one of the saddest experiences of my life to see him in that condition and it will remain with me to my dying day. I prayed and prayed and prayed for him, for his family and for our nation. Yes, our nation, because I saw this vicious attack on his life as a heartless, brazen assault against all that was good and Godlike in our society and against law and order itself.”

Bergan’s determination and spirit of forgiveness were also highlighted by the Parliamentary Representative.

“But Joseph Bergan, filled with faith in God, supported with much love from family, friends and fellow soldiers, and determined to live to see his son, Rhajgeeme, grow up, and to walk again despite the view in some quarters that he might never do so, fought and is still fighting, like the champion that he is. He got married to his sweetheart Sharolee in August of this year, and he is now eager to return to work in the Defence Force. Not to perform duties that he once did, at least not yet, but to lend his heart, soul, intelligence, skill and commitment to the Defence Force and to the process of keeping peace and order in our Federation. I hope that his wish will be granted.”

He further explained that in a television interview sometime last week, Bergan expressed that “he would like to meet the families of his assailants, hoping that such a meeting would bring peace to the hearts and souls of all”.

In recognition of the contributions of these two men and their families to the Federation of St. Christopher and Nevis, Astaphan called on the authorities to have the names of these men and also that of Sergeant Clive Benjamin enshrined in the annals of the land.

“The people of the Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis owe Junior Michael Francis and Joseph Shaun Bergan, and their families, an enormous debt of gratitude. Mr. Speaker, I call on the appropriate authorities to name something in honour of these two men. And again I call upon the authorities to also name something in honour of the late Police Sergeant Clive Benjamin who fell to an assassin’s bullet on October 1, 2006 while doing his duty.”