“He did not go into battle to die but to serve his country” – Asst Commissioner Vyphuis
By Vahnu Manikchand
Amid loud wailing, policeman Michael Forde who was gunned down when a gold miner went on a shooting spree at his Middle Street home last week was laid to rest on Tuesday – the first of the four victims to be buried. Forde, 24, a lance corporal attached to the Tactical Services Unit (TSU), was killed in the line of duty when Deryck Kanhai went berserk, killing three other persons before he was fatally shot by ranks.
At the funeral service held at the First Assembly of God in Wortmanville, Forde was eulogised as a committed policeman who paid the ultimate sacrifice. The service included scripture readings by his relatives, and hymns.
The church was packed with relatives and friends, along with dozens of police officers.
Before the service started, the body of Forde was taken into the church where persons had the opportunity to view it as they paid their respects and bid farewell to the fallen policeman.
In the eulogy, done by a relative, Carlotta Lee, it was disclosed that Forde always had a passion for the police force and dreamt of becoming an officer. “He had a dream of wearing khaki uniform, so he made his dreams come through and went to join the Guyana Police Force. Michael was very involved in his work, he loved his work,” Lee said.
She added that Forde was very mature and he was a father-figure for younger persons around him, disclosing that he even took up a job as soon as he left school to support his mother.
Selfless service
Delivering a tribute on behalf of the Guyana Police Force, Assistant Commissioner George Vyphuis said that there were no words to describe a young man who decided to go into battle without any safety equipment, but just thought about saving the lives of others. The senior officer, who was also at the scene of the shooting, said for an officer there was no looking back when duty called, as he reprimanded those who criticised the police for not arriving at the shooting prepared.
“Michael went there to serve us. When Michael went on the ground, he was with two ICs and I was on the ground too without bulletproof vest, because it never came to thought. All that came to mind was that we need to stop the lawlessness that was going on, but it did not stop until we lost four lives,” Vyphuis stated.
Courageous
The assistant commissioner disclosed that since Forde joined the police force in 2007, he has been attached to the TSU, where he committed himself to a job he loved. Vyphuis described Forde as a “fun person”, whose demise left a void not only in the lives of his colleagues but in the entire police force.
He said on Tuesday, November 12, when Forde reported to the scene, he did not go into that battle to die but to serve his country. “He went there to stop a man who decided to take the law into his own hands.”
Vyphuis called on the dozens of officers present in the congregation to reflect on the short but impactful life of Forde and respect the courage that he displayed, adding that they should use it as motivation as they contain the battle they face on a daily basis.
The sermon was delivered by Reverend RM Massiah. After the church service, Forde was given a full military funeral with gun salutes at the Le Repentir Cemetery, after his body was escorted outside the church by officers.
Forde was killed along with Constable Sherwin Pantlitz on that fateful day. Two civilians Vanessa Vyphuis and Hugh Rowland were also killed by Kanhai.
