Despite being riddled with the grief and pain of losing their 20-year-old son Tyrese Caesar to gun violence last month, Jacqueline and Daniel Caesar have refused to let the tragedy destroy their son’s legacy.
They announced the launch of the Tyrese Caesar Foundation, which they hope to be a leading voice in advocating for safer communities and an end to gun crime and to offer assistance to others affected by such violence, during an emotional vigil at Heywoods Beach, St Peter last evening.
The young Durants, Christ Church resident was fatally shot outside the Cottage Bar and Grill in St Joseph, along with 34-year-old Trae Harris of French Village, St Peter, on June 29. Nineteen-year-old Seth Towler of Heddings, St Philip, was also injured in the incident that is still under investigation.
Jacqueline, who described the week since her son’s death as “gruelling and a never-ending nightmare”, declared that while Tyrese’s life was shortened at the hands of a gunman, the Foundation would take action to save others from the painful experience of losing a loved one to senseless crime.
“It has been established to assist victims, family members, close friends, etc. Gun violence has become very pervasive in Barbados. We will be joining arms with the Government otherwise his life would be in vain,” she said.
Jacqueline and Daniel Caesar.
“There are many Barbadians in similar positions and we will be advocating for safer communities and implementing national gun violence prevention campaigns. We will be partnering with local and international law enforcement agencies.
“For every gun taken off the streets in Barbados, a life could be saved, so though Tyrese has left us in 2022 he would not have lived a life in vain or lost his life in vain.”
The non-profit charity will be led by a 10-member sub-committee that includes retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Leila Strickland, Sergeant Donovan Smith of the Barbados Defence Force, the deceased’s stepfather Neil Watson, business owner Patricia Moore, attorney-at-law Lasandra Bobb, Pastor and Counsellor Reverend Deborah Lorde, and auditor Chiwale Gooding.
Jacqueline also disclosed that the Foundation will partner with local and international law enforcement agencies and introduce campaigns in both primary and secondary schools to steer young people away from a life of crime.
Daniel, who is devastated by his son’s death, admitted that he has been experiencing a lot of anger.
The devout Muslim who lives abroad expressed concern about the high level of gun crimes in Barbados as he stressed that the Foundation will mount a strong assault against gun violence.
“I live in a country with 9.85 million people in Dubai and the things that are happening here in Barbados do not happen [there]. There is no reason why a lot of lawlessness that goes on here in this country cannot cease, so through the Foundation we are hoping that every firearm that is removed from the streets of Barbados is a life saved and we can attribute that life to Tyrese Caesar,” he said.
“My son was magnanimous in person, he will be after he has left this earth. His life and legacy will continue.”
Throughout the evening, members of the intimate gathering, dressed in all white and bearing candles, tearfully comforted each other.
General Manager of the Barbados Water Authority Keithroy Halliday paid glowing tribute to Tyrese whom he said made “an indelible mark in the world”.
“He was someone who I saw as someone full of promise. Tyrese was very kind, very much an intellect, and extremely generous,” he said.
Members of the public will be able to donate to the charity at Tyrese’s funeral service, a date for which has not yet been announced.
