Milade Azan (left), uncle of Maurice Azan who was murdered by gunmen two weeks ago, is consoled by another nephew, Khaliel Azan, during yesterday's funeral at the St. Thomas More Catholic Church in May Pen, Clarendon. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
SCORES OF persons, including a large contingent of the May Pen business community, turned out for the funeral of the late businessman, Maurice Azan, yesterday.
Mr. Azan was shot, along with his stepson Lloyd Phang, at his business place in May Pen by a group of gunmen two Saturdays ago.
Mr. Azan was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital, while Mr. Phang died a few days later.
The Reverend Charles Dufour, Bishop of Montego Bay, in reading the homily of the late Mr. Azan, asked what will be the response of the people to the death of the businessman and the more than 600 people who have been killed since the start of the year. He described Mr. Azan as a kind, loving and God-fearing man who tried at all times to assist people in whatever way he could.
"Today is the day to make that commitment people, this is a spiritual response to Maurice and the more than 600 Jamaicans who have been murdered since January," Bishop Dufour said. "We must be proactive, not deadactive. We must see the police, not as enemies. They are here to crush the vicious cycle of crime and death that pervades our beautiful island," he urged the gathering of family, friends, colleagues and well-wishers who filled the church yard to pay their last respects.
