Mourners Remember Tyler Savery as Mom Vows Fight for Justice

Tyler Savery

An already bruised nation continues to reel from the double murder of seven year old Tyler Savery and twenty-one year old Porshan Pipersburgh last Friday afternoon. There is a growing movement to make a numb society alive, to create solutions rather than cast blame. That is the hope of Tyler’s mother, Shakera Young, and his grieving family. They hope to start the momentum with today’s poignant memorial service for Tyler, held at the B.T.L. Park. Aaron Humes reports.

Aaron Humes, Reporting

Seven year old Tyler Savery is in heaven now, taken before his time by senseless violence. Here on Earth, those closest to him gathered in his memory today at the B.T.L. Park. There were poems and remembrances, but most importantly for his grieving family, a cross-section of a community wracked by violence. Appearing more in their personal than political capacities were U.D.P. City Councilor Dion Leslie and P.U.P. Caribbean Shores representative Kareem Musa, placing emphasis on healing the community.

Dion Leslie

Dion Leslie, City Councilor

“It’s nothing about red or blue, green or whatever—politics, U.D.P./P.U.P.—I knew tyler from when he was born. His father who passed away couple years ago due to gun violence was a close friend of mine. So when I got the news, I broke down. It is pretty hard, but what I hope is as a nation, as a city, as people, as brother and sisters, we are not numb to this. This isn’t just another case of someone got killed, we bury him and we move on. I hope that we haven’t gotten to that state that we are so numb; that we can’t feel anymore. I sit here and I look at the pictures, I look at his classmates, I look at his family and there is no way that you can’t see your son or your daughter or your family in his face, in his smile. So it’s been pretty hard, but I hope as a nation, as a people, this wakes us up.”

Kareem Musa

Kareem Musa, Area Rep., Caribbean Shores

“I am here first and foremost as a father; I have two young boys. It is just incredible the amount of emotions you feel out here today. It’s really sad, but at the same time it is a powerful message that is being sent by Miss Shakera Young. She is going through so much; she has lsot four family members to gun violence. It is just really heart-wrenching to see that. But the overall message is a powerful one. We, as politicians, we have to listen to what Shakera Young is saying. We have to be able to put aside our differences as individuals in society. We have to be able to live in peace with one another. I mean everybody has a role to play. The politicians have to find the solutions; it is high time that they find the solutions. Slavery ended so many years ago, but in truth, our people are still mentally enslaved. There is no opportunities for jobs, no access to land. I know the government is crying out that they are broke; but my God we have so much land in Belize. Why aren’t we empowering our people by giving them a piece of land, by taking them out of the city—just giving them that power that they have been missing for so long? Education, something that the P.U.P. has been advocating for—I don’t want to make this political—but the hard fact is that every child should be entitled to free education in this country, at least up to sixth form. Those are the priorities that our government should be focusing on.”

For veteran youth counsellor and Director of the Youth Apprenticeship Program, Dianne Finnegan, who lost a protégé in Tyler’s cousin Porshan Pipersburgh, it was tough to remain optimistic. It is tough to remain optimistic because some are so ready to throw their lives away.

Dianne Finnegan

Dianne Finnegan, Coordinator, Youth Apprenticeship Program

“One of the things that I’ve realised and just sitting in to the different interventions, hearing D-Shawn Morris, who was here just a few days ago, speak…this is a personal emotion and when things like this happen, they really don’t care. A bullet that has a target ahs no emotions and they could care less who is in the midst as long as they accomplish their purpose, which is so sad because we stand on the side and we mourn and they continue to prepare themselves for the next agenda, for the next victim, because they know what stands in line, what comes after. So we could try our best to figure out what’s in their thoughts, what’s in their minds. Do they have a soul? They do have emotions. Their emotions are so bitter, so torn; their agenda is well-script that they don’t want inside interference to even tell them this is not the way to go. And that is why often times you would see that things happen at the spur of the moment; it is how they breathe at the moment and then they hit their target.”

Tyler’s mom says today’s tribute will not be her last for her dearly missed son – and her quest for justice, for herself and the nation, has only just begun.

Shakera Young

Shakera Young, Mother of Tyler Savery

“I’ve had tremendous support, I must say that and I want to sincerely thank everybody. My son, like I said, I chose cremation because that is my way of accepting that my son is gone. Dust you are made and dust you shall return. And I will take my son home; I will keep him in his urn. I will keep his cars around him; I will keep him happy at home. I will take him where I go; I will travel with him and I will continue keeping my baby safe. And to that young man that is behind bars, pray. And to the persons that are missing and if it is even that young man that didn’t do what they are saying that he did and if he knows something, I am asking him to find it within himself to bring that person and shed some light because my son did not deserve what happened to him. But like I said, my son’s blood is still stained to the street and it will never be forgotten, ever…ever. I pass that street twice and whenever I pass, I have to cry. But it will no longer be tears of sorrow and pain; it will now become tears of joy because I will make an impact on this nation. So everybody, get used to my face.”

Aaron Humes Reporting, for News Five.