The murder of gang leader Kerwin “Fresh” Phillip, last Sunday morning, has moved two members of the clergy, Fr Clyde Harvey and Fr Jason Gordon to speak publicly about his life and death and express their concern for the fragile peace in East Port of Spain.

Fr Harvey, in a press release, mentioned the “huge vacuum” that was now left in the area with Phillip’s passing, Fr Gordon, delivering the sermon at the service marking the opening of the new law term, spoke of the petty criminal activity which the slain leader was able to bring under control in an admirable manner.

Both men, Fr Harvey parish priest of the Rosary/ Gonzales Parish and Fr Gordon, its former parish priest, had good things to say about Philip, although it was clear that in doing so they were not intending to dismiss Phillip’s past.

Fr Harvey said, Phillip “knew he would one day pay the ultimate price for the past and for the changes he was seeking to effect in the present.” Both priests recognised a profound desire for change and a genuine attempt to work for peace among once warring gangs. It was important that these credible voices acknowledge Phillip’s courageous attempt to change his way of life.

Fr Gordon, though, in his sermon, went further. He drew a disturbing picture of Philip’s death as engineered by certain persons who had a stake in seeing peace in the area fail.

Taking all into consideration, it seems fair to say that the peace process in East Port of Spain has come to a delicate and most important stage. A heedless act of revenge could bring an abrupt end to the peace process in which Phillip was engaged.

Shrewd children of light

And yet, now, even with Philip’s death there lies a possibility for gangs in the East-West corridor to defy those who would deal in death and try even harder to make peace real. It appears that steps are already being taken in the area to renew the commitment to peace.

This initiative must be applauded and all right-thinking citizens will do all they can to support it.

Both Fr Jason and Fr Harvey alluded to the important work that has been done by various agencies - governmental and non-governmental – in the area in recent months. We commend those who have been engaged, it seems with little fanfare, in this most important work. This work must continue and must be deepened with even greater zeal.

With Fr Harvey we too say, “Fresh’s life and death must not be in vain.” To not share this vision is to contemplate the unthinkable, that the area could “descend further into a blood bath that will only serve the interest of the selfish and greedy, leading to even more widows and orphans in our communities,” according to Fr Harvey

This Sunday the Church will listen to the parable of the dishonest steward who earns the praise of his master for his shrewdness. “The children of this world,” says the Gospel, “are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light” (Luke 16:8). 

Philip’s death challenges those who have been close to him to be shrewd children of light. It offers them an opportunity to act out of a higher moral order. Our hope and prayer is that they will; our conviction is that they can.