Grieving Parents Demand Justice System Reforms After Losing Their Children

For three parents who have buried their children, the pain of their loss has been made even harder by what they say happened afterward, long stretches of silence, unanswered questions and a justice system that too often left them searching for information on their own.

Joycelyn O’Garro-Piper, Vangetta Hector-Francis and Khalid Shabazz shared their experiences during an appearance on Observer AM, where they called for changes to the way police, the courts and other state institutions deal with grieving families.

Their circumstances are different, but each parent spoke of frustration with a system they believe failed to communicate with them at some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

O’Garro-Piper lost her 33-year-old son, Rodney Piper, who was beaten to death on September 9, 2023.

She said she spent two and a half years waiting for meaningful information about the investigation, only to eventually learn by chance that an arrest had been made.

Describing the absence of official communication as “excruciatingly loud”, O’Garro-Piper said families should not have to repeatedly chase the police for basic updates about cases involving their loved ones.

She called for a functioning customer service unit within the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda that would ensure victims and their relatives are kept informed as investigations progress.

Hector-Francis raised similar concerns following the killing of her son, Vonde Bowers, last year in an incident involving teenagers.

She said major developments in her son’s case reached her through WhatsApp messages rather than directly from the authorities, leaving her frustrated by the lack of formal communication.

Shabazz’s concerns centred on the treatment of his son, Rashawn, before his death in prison.

According to Shabazz, court orders requiring that Rashawn receive treatment at Clearview Psychiatric Hospital were repeatedly ignored. Rashawn later died while incarcerated, and his father has continued to raise questions about the circumstances surrounding his death.

Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Nuffield Burnett, responding to the parents’ concerns, said law enforcement has a legal responsibility to keep complainants informed during investigations.

He said people who believe they have been subjected to unreasonable delays or poor communication can make complaints to the police force’s Office of Professional Standards, which is responsible for investigating alleged misconduct under the statutory disciplinary framework.

Burnett also stressed that families are free to seek legal representation, even if police officers advise them otherwise.

Legal expert Warren Cassell similarly encouraged grieving relatives to obtain independent legal advice when navigating criminal investigations and the court system.

He said court orders, including those involving the treatment of prisoners, can be enforced where authorities fail to comply.

Cassell also addressed concerns surrounding the Juvenile Act, explaining that the legislation places significant emphasis on rehabilitation and restricts custodial sentences for young offenders in an effort to prevent them from becoming hardened criminals.

He noted, however, that families affected by juvenile crime may still have civil remedies available to them.

The parents are now pushing for changes they believe could prevent other families from experiencing the same frustrations.

Among their proposals are the return of school truancy officers to help identify and protect vulnerable young people, changes to legislation dealing with juvenile crime, stronger communication between police and victims’ families, and better coordination among the courts, prison authorities and psychiatric facilities when dealing with people who require mental health treatment.

For the three parents, the calls for reform are about more than their individual cases. They want a system in which grieving families are not left wondering what is happening, court orders are respected and those seeking answers after the loss of a loved one are treated with greater care and accountability.

This article was adapted from original reporting by Sharon N. Simon, Antigua Observer by Newsco.