(Trinidad Express) They went through five months of military training together. Two Fridays ago, they successfully completed that training course and became members of the Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard together. Early yesterday morning, they died together.
The two young men—23-year-old Jamaal Anthony and his “batch” Jamal Edwards, 24—were burned beyond recognition after the car in which they were occupants burst into flames after crashing into a concrete culvert in St Augustine.
The tragic incident took place along the Priority Bus Route (PBR) sometime around 4 a.m., after the duo spent Saturday night celebrating Edwards’ birthday, which was on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters at her Gardenia Circular, D’Abadie, Arima home, Edwards’ mother Julie Edwards said she begged her son to not go out but to just stay home and relax.
“He said mummy, Wednesday was my birthday and I couldn’t celebrate it, I want to celebrate it tonight (Saturday). He wanted to go and now he is really gone,” the weeping woman said.
She said Edwards, who had an ultimate dream of becoming a chemical engineer, was not just her son but also one of her best friends.
“He was a fighter. Anything he wanted to do, he would not give up. He would go at it. He wanted to go into the Air Guard and he was so happy when he passed out and I was happy too.”
The woman added that prior to entering the Air Guard, the two friends never knew each other but became close when they met during training. On a few occasions she said she had the opportunity of meeting Anthony, who she described as a pleasant young man.
“My advice to young people is if you know you are tired and exhausted please stay home. I think that is probably what took place with them. I think they fell asleep while in the car,” she said.
Anthony’s father, Elton Anthony, said he too believed that his son, who was the driver of the Toyota Yaris motorcar, fell asleep behind the steering wheel.
Speaking at his Kewley Street, Tunapuna home, Anthony said his son had only finished working his shift on Saturday evening and decided to go out.
“He was supposed to go out with his cousins but they couldn’t make it so he called his batch and organised,” he said. “I was home this morning when this policeman who I know a long time passed and called out to me and told me it looked like my son was in an accident. I didn’t get to see his body because by the time I went to the scene they had already cut the car and took out their bodies. I am just thankful that I had him for the past 23 years.”
