PHILIPSBURG--Tears and disbelief were just some of the sentiments of hundreds of friends, family and well-wishers during the funeral of Police Officer Anselmo Alexander Boasman, also known to many as Selmo. He was cremated on Saturday, after he died in the Dominican Republic on February 29.

 

Government officials such as Prime Minister William Marlin, Minister of Justice Edson Kirindongo, Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Angel Meyers and President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams were among those attending the church service for the late officer. The viewing of the body took place at Royal Funeral Home and colleagues paid their last respects, after which family members had a private moment with the deceased.page10a250

 

Boasman’s body was escorted to the Philipsburg police headquarters where honour guards stood in front of the station saluting the body. High ranking police officers, including Chief of Police Carl John, met the family at the arrival point, escorted Boasman’s mother to the wall of fallen heroes and unveiled Boasman’s picture while family members wept.

 

Boasman’s fiancée Nikki Webster stood next to Boasman’s mother and sister during the ceremonies on Saturday. At 12:10pm, the body was escorted to the Fire Station in Cay Hill for a short ceremony by his colleagues at the Fire Department. An honour guard also was waiting for the body at the Fire Department. A short march took place in front of the building in recollection of how Boasman started at the Fire Department while on job training.

 

One hour later, the body was escorted to the Roman Catholic Church on Front Street for public viewing and the official church service. Tribute and songs were presented at the church service by several groups and individuals. Former member of Parliament Roy Marlin, a close family friend, was set to deliver the eulogy, but overcome by a moment of grief he was not able to bear reading the speech, so his daughter presented the eulogy.

 

Minister of Justice Edson Kirindongo said in his speech, “My thoughts went directly to an experience my family and I had some years ago. When we lost our youngest sister, an immigration officer in Curaçao, and on her way home from work lost her life in a car accident. These are moments that we never forget. But believe me, it is a pain that no one can ever imagine or feel until you have gone through it with the loss of a parent, child or sibling.

 

page10c250“I have to admit that I never had the honour of meeting officer Boasman personally. When I made a remark to another member of the police some days ago that I do not know officer Boasman, I was told: minister, he was a guy who always wanted to serve his country. He was proud to be a police officer. That in it-self told me exactly who Boasman was. He was a man of honour, dignity and grace who puts his country first above all things to serve and protect,” said Minister Kirindongo.

 

Chief of Police Carl John took a different direction during his speech and watched the mother and family members in the eyes and said, “Find strength in your faith in God. Anselmo is in a better place. I want to speak from my heart. Speaking to the mother of Boasman on the phone, I really didn’t know what to say or how to act. I guess she felt this and told me, that I should ‘describe my son that did not dream his life but lived his dream,’” said the top cop.

 

John also spoke about the negativity surrounding the image of the police and said critics should focus on the heart police officers put into their work on a daily basis rather than criticising the police. His comment was met with a roaring applause from the Church audience.

 

“It took me three years to get 20 officers from St. Maarten in the Police Force and Anselmo was one of them. He started as a fireman and he was good because I did receive a phone call after he got in the Police Force from the chief of the fire department upset about losing one of his top recruits. Anselmo rest in peace and you will not be forgotten,” said Carl John in his spontaneous address.

 

Following the service, Boasman’s body was transported to the Royal Funeral Home crematorium. Honour guards consisting of several uniformed justice officials assembled along Sucker Garden Road and marched to the Royal Funeral home. Three salvos were fired by honour guards closing the ceremony on Saturday.

 

The Daily Herald