Kerry Dwight Baird turned his back on a life of crime following the birth of his daughter six years ago, and relatives believe this decision may have led to his death on the weekend.
They made the claim outside the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday.
Relatives, who asked not to be named, said the move to walk the straight and narrow had not gone down well with the crowd Baird previously ran with.
Saddened over what she claimed was a general lack of love, a female relative said, “Parents need to show love to their children. Love is the answer because if from small they don’t know what love is, they won’t have love to give when they get older. So love is the answer and that is what we are lacking...love, care, and compassion for each other.
“This is what we are lacking and it must start with the generation now, for us to have a better future.”
Baird, 34, was shot multiple times last Saturday while on duty at the Immigration Division, Henry Street, Port-of-Spain.
The father of one worked as a security guard and lived at Fatima Trace, Laventille.
Relatives lamented that Baird’s daughter celebrated her birthday on April 1 and days later had now been left fatherless.
A grieving woman said, “Every single thing he did and had was for that little girl.”
Relatives said while Baird had not been scared of his past, they speculated that his refusal to continue hanging with people from his past could have been what led to his untimely demise.
“It was envy,” one woman said, adding, “Refusing to link with certain guys and because he cut them off, they want to get rid of him.
“He was showing them, I choose to work and make money and what alyuh chose to do...I not on that, so he separate himself from that and since he do that, they see him as the enemy.”
Fighting back her tears, another relative said, “All he wanted to do was change his life.”
Relatives said Baird’s killing had again brought thoughts of migrating to the forefront as they labelled the crime situation as out of control.
“It hurts. People don’t care about life any more,” one said.
Baird would have last seen all his siblings around New Year’s Day, when they all got together to ring in the holiday and spend time with each other
One relative recalled speaking with Baird two days ago and that he had left her several voice notes promising to call her back.
She said the “hustler” was not known for sitting still, as he was always about earning a dollar to look after his daughter.
Indicating that Baird had always been protective of his family but more so his nieces and nephews, the other female relative begged, “It don’t make no sense all. You killing one another but life so sweet.”
Questioning where the love had gone, she added, “The people that acting out now don’t know love. It is monsters out here that have no mercy and compassion...they don’t know love and you can’t give something you don’t have.”
