Fallen Sergeant’s family raises over $4000 for police youth clubs

Over four thousand dollars has been raised by the family of the late Detective Sergeant 209 Philbert Gregory Chambers, with the majority of the funds going to the Barrouallie and Questelles police youth clubs.

The handing over of the funds to the youth clubs was made at a ceremony to unveil a plaque in the late officer’s memory that will be placed at the police station in Chambers’ hometown of Barrouallie.

Calbert and Coreen Bobb, parents of the late Philbert Chambers holding a plaque to be hung in his memory

The passing of the Sergeant, who was shot in the head and killed in the line of duty on April 26 this year, sent ripples of shock through the police community.

He was known to be jovial and dedicated to his job, as well as passionate about the youth in the community. Following in his brothers’ footsteps, Chambers became a coordinator for the Barrouallie Police Youth Club, and when he moved to the Questelles police station, Chambers established a youth club there and was district coordinator until the time of his death.

Many honours have been given in the memory of the beloved officer, who was buried at the Glebe Hill cemetery in Barrouallie after a full military funeral on May 17. A scholarship has been promised to be established in his name;

his number is to be retired so no other may use it, and a plaque has been affixed at the entrance of the Central Police Station (CPS).

At the Barrouallie Resource Centre last Friday, August 7, Philbert’s brother Kishroy Chambers, who was unable to attend his brother’s funeral due to restrictions on travelling because of the COVID-19 pandemic, reflected that someone can shoot his brother, but they cannot shoot his vision.

“You can shoot the man but you certainly cannot shoot a vision. Because that vision, in itself, will never die and as we go on to celebrate his life and we go on to reflect on the things that he has done and we reflect daily on the values that he’s imparted on the club and imparted on the lives of everyone let us all continue to maintain the ethos that he stands for,” Kishroy, one of the late Sergeant’s 12 siblings, stated.

He said that his brother’s spirit should be carried on by those members of the youth clubs, who were in attendance at the ceremony. “That mentality reminds us that we are in ourself nation builders.”

Kishroy said his brother lived “A pure life. A life that is full of strength, and a life that tells us St Vincent and the Grenadines have young men, have young women, have leaders who are willing to stand.”

Chambers’ colleague, Sergeant 193 Gart DeShong, who spoke afterwards, assured, “He (Chambers) will always be remembered in our hearts, and his love will never die.”

The late Sergeant’s parents, with whom he was very close, Calbert and Coreen Bobb, helped to unveil the plaque, which will be affixed at the station by the Roads, Buildings and General Services Authority (BRAGSA) at a later date.

“In loving memory of Sergeant 209 Chambers. A son, brother and mentor who on April 26, 2020, without care for his life, paid the ultimate sacrifice for his country,” the plaque reads.

“You have shown us the true meaning of duty and honour to your country. Your family will never forget you: your colleagues will never forget you,” it continues.

“Gone, yet always here. You are forever in our hearts, memories and thoughts. Your absence is a silent grief, your life a beautiful memory,” the plaque concludes.