A friend is a person who you can call at 3am when you are in trouble and be certain of a quick and effective response to your distress.
My late wife Adriane, our daughter Kayla and I had the fortune of having had many persons in our lives who we could call friends. Foremost among them are Samuel Bulgin and Peter Polack. Both gentlemen and their families are our friends, demonstrated during Adriane’s illness and recent period of our bereavement, and both continue to offer their invaluable support.
My late wife loved and respected Sam Bulgin. She very much admired his unassuming and humble disposition and marvelled at the fact that he continued to serve the higher cause of his office quietly even whilst adversaries heaped personal abuse on him and his personal and family’s security are placed in great jeopardy for it. Because of this, she was very supportive of my prolonged absences a few short years ago, when I was frequently called to duty at various un-Godly hours, caused by a local gang conglomerate and its heinous leadership who targeted the Attorney General and his family during a sustained attempt to exact revenge for his decimation of their ranks.
My own experiences with Sam predates his high office, but were it not for my interest in public affairs and policing, I would not have noticed his many elevations during this time, for his friendship never wavered.
Peter demonstrates friendship like no other. He is not quite content with words of encouragement or wishes of fortune, but will very much turn up at your door with the most tangible demonstrations of concern and help in times of crises. Cases in point; when my house was shot up in Bodden Town with my family some 25 years ago, he immediately offered house, car and every other kind of support as a refuge for my family and me. When Adriane was flown out by Air Ambulance to Miami in September 2009, in typical Peter fashion, he flew over with a delegation to offer all the support a friend in need could hope for. The man is passionate in all he does, especially in defence of his friends.
Most of my other close friends would have been found under the Almond Tree of that hot Saturday morning of 4 June, 2011, and are of no less intensity on the friendship spectrum. They had become even closer friends with Adriane, as she had a way of co-opting all my friends; almost to a man, once they met her, I was of secondary importance.
Death is viewed differently by disparate cultures. Being from Jamaica, a wake with singing, dominoes and a variety of spirits liberally unleashed to the heavens is a required protocol. However, Adriane’s West Bay family vetoed those plans for her, in keeping with solemn Caymanian traditions. Being from New Orleans, Adriane’s culture would have merry making and partying on her passing. In fact, a second line dance would have been in order at her funeral. It was her wish that all her friends celebrate her life and not mourn her passing.
My family and I did not notice a disturbance at Adriane’s funeral. Not surprising, given that we were wrapped up in grief. It is also not surprising that Peter would notice any imperfections at the event and attack them with the same passion for which he is well known. What is less known, is that the AG and others under that Almond Tree were demonstrating their love and grief by mere presence, since there is no other duty imposed on them to be there, but love for Adriane and her family. In any case, I know that my very best friends who have been unwavering in their support and love during our recent crises, and which support continues to this day, have no ill intentions or disrespect for me and my family.
Adriane would have demanded that I clear the air on this. She was also quite passionate in defence of her friends.
Patrick Beersingh
Related Videos
