INDECOM steps in to assist grieving mother seeking help to bury son
/ Our Today
administratorThe Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) says it has contacted the family of Matthew Small, one of two men fatally shot by police in Ewarton, St Catherine, last December, to assist with a funeral grant referral.
INDECOM’s intervention follows a Jamaica Observer article published on November 8, titled “Please, I need to bury my grandson,” in which Small’s mother made a public appeal for help.
The commission said its Family Liaison Officers (FLOs) have reached out to the family to guide them through the process of accessing available support.
Small was killed in a planned police operation on December 13, 2024, which had no eyewitnesses and where no body-worn cameras were used or issued.
INDECOM noted that since 2021, its FLOs have expanded their mandate to include social intervention referrals, offering assistance such as counselling, financial support, and guidance to affected families.
Commissioner Hugh Faulkner said the approach reflects INDECOM’s belief that investigations should be complemented by humanitarian outreach.
“Beyond the need for independent and factual resolution of cases, our complainants and their families may require additional support,” Faulkner said. “We aim to guide them in accessing services for emotional, financial, or physical assistance.”
The Commission emphasised that while referrals do not guarantee financial grants, they represent an important first step in connecting citizens to available welfare resources.
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