On the morning of December 10th, 2020, Fabian’s life was cut short in a motor vehicle accident. Most deaths are unexpected and undesirable but the circumstances leading up to his death could have been prevented in many ways.
While on duty, even though he wasn’t supposed to be on the schedule that day, a car ran the red light at a popular intersection knocking him off of his motorcycle leaving him there injured for an hour because of lack of emergency services. He finally went to a hospital where he spent his final hour improperly treated for the fatal situation he was truly in.
He chose to be a police officer to earn an honest living and serve the community that he loved, but it wasn’t his idea of a dream job. Despite the unpredictable hours, lack of proper equipment, delays in payment, and dangerous conditions, he still took pride in everything he did and gave his hardest each time. He was determined to provide to his country and leave a piece of his legacy. This foundation is the continuation of that legacy.
Without adequate opportunities for youth, a life of gun violence, scamming, and crime can seem quite inviting, but he resisted because he was raised better and believed in a brighter Jamaica. While he wasn’t given enough respect for how much he gave back nor enough time to touch as many lives as he wanted to, his memory will continue to live on through giving back to the youths who choose to do the right thing even if it’s the hardest thing to do. Although it will get tough, this is a reward to remind you that someone else is always watching and commends you for your attempts.
There is no clear solution to remedying the problems that affect the Caribbean and entire African diaspora but the goal is to come together and make small steps towards a big difference. In time, I want to reach out to more people, create more opportunities for work, volunteering, education, and betterment throughout Jamaica and the diaspora.
Morrison Matthews Foundation 