Pacquette family in Dominica still waiting for closure from St Kitts-Nevis PM Harris

Three years after Dominica-born Brian Pacquette died from his wounds after he was shot by a fellow police officer of the Royal St Christopher and Nevis Police Force, his family members are still crying out for justice from St Kitts and Nevis' Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr the Hon Timothy Harris.

Thirty four-year-old Pacquette was sent to Trinidad for treatment where he died on July 18, 2016.

He was buried with full military honours in his native Dominica on August 9, 2016.

"To all of Brian Pacquette's friends, today, July 18th 2019, makes 3 years since he went to sleep andthere has yet to be justice for him. He was a Police Officer in the St Kitts and Nevis Police Force. He was shot by his police partner on duty on June 23rd 2016. He suffered for 3 weeks before going to sleep on July 18th 2016. Although he is not here with

us physically, he will forever live on in his family and friends' heart," said Pacquette's mother Faith Taurance in a posting on her FaceBook page.

"He was not a dog - not even a dog's life should be taken just like that...it still hurts me, his mother, to see that my son's life was taken just like that. His brother and sisters are still also hurting. They miss their brother just as much as I miss my son. My son joined the Police Force in order to help his family live a comfortable life, but since he's been

gone, we have had to fight to make ends meet," said Taurance, who urged the authorities in St Kitts and Nevis "to have a heart... it's time for us, his family, to receive what he worked hard for. My dear son, God doesn't sleep. There will be justice. — feeling

sad."

On December 30th 2016, Taurrance aslo wrote: “This is what we have received from the St Kitts Police Force and government,” and posted a photo of the August 9th 2016 burial in Dominica. At the funeral service, Prime Minister Harris eulogised Pacquette, who had lived in his constituency, as a fine gem of a gentleman.

“We have all come to pay our respects to the life of officer Brian Pacquette who served in the Royal St Christopher and Nevis Police Force with distinction, with courage, dedication and bravery. I was able to see the fine gem of a gentleman that Pacquette had been moulded to be because of the grounding, and the love and support he has had from birth from all of you the family members here in the Commonwealth of Dominica,” Dr Harris told the mourners, which included a contingent from the Royal St Christopher and Nevis Police Force.

The day before the funeral in Dominica Dr Harris spoke for 90 minutes with 29 of Pacquette’s family members in the conference room of the Dominica Public Service Union and made several promises.

Family members say since the funeral service, not a word from the Office of Prime Minster Harris or the Office of the Commissioner of Police.

Paquette was shot in the upper leg by officer Dijon Warner, a former bodyguard of prime minister Harris, during what should have been a routine detention of a larceny suspect.

Warner fled St Kitts and Nevis for the United States after an internal investigation had begun.

In May last year, police issued a wanted bulletin for Warner to face a manslaughter charge for Pacquette's death.

In February this year, Acting Commissioner of Police, Hilroy Brandy confirmed that Warner was apprehended by United States authorities and was awaiting extradition to St Kitts and Nevis.

It was not immediately known Saturday if Warner has been repatriated to St Kitts and Nevis.