Nine days ago he was ambushed, shot multiple times and underwent numerous surgeries in The Bahamas and Florida. But, on Thursday, Police Superintendent Clayton Fernander received a hero’s welcome when he returned home.
Greeted by his fellow officers Supt. Fernander arrived back in the country just before 3:00 p.m. Thursday with his right hand in a cast, evidence of his brutal April 11 attack.
But even with his hand barely able to move the high ranking police officer said he is happy to be back home with his family and colleagues and noted that despite what has happened to him he remains committed to fighting crime.
“I know that everyone is concerned with respect to my injuries,” he said. “I want to take this time out to really thank the entire public who had prayers for me, who called and who visited.”
“I believe it is through the grace of God and their prayers that I am here today. I want to say at this time that we need to come together as one and members of the public need to support their police force. We cannot sit back and let a few thugs take over this country.”
Last Wednesday, two men ambushed Supt. Fernander as he arrived at his St. Vincent Road home and shot him multiple times to the chest and right hand.
It was initially thought that his hand would have to be amputated because it was so badly mangled but Supt. Fernander said the doctors have promised to keep a close eye on the hand to determine if they would have to operate again.
On Tuesday, 23-year-old Maurice Armbrister and 21-year-old Excel Josey were charged with attempted murder in connection with that shooting.
The wounded officer gave reporters an update the injuries he sustained to his hand.
“It’s coming along well; it’s progressing well as time goes on,” he added. “[The doctors] were able to manage it and see the progress. They will inform me and they will examine the hand and to see if they have to go back into it, but the hand is coming along well.
“They were able to change the cast (on Wednesday) and God is so good. During the changing of the cast the doctor felt the finger and was able to see some nerves coming back. The hand is certainly coming back.”
Supt. Fernander thanked the country at large, his fellow officers especially Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade whom he said never left his side, his family and all those who prayed for him for helping him pull through.
But he added that based on the fact that he was able to stand on his feet, speak, smile and at times even crack a joke is testament to the works of a greater force.
“Psalms 27:1 says, ‘The Lord is the light, my life and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is my strength and my life of whom shall I be afraid?’ It’s good to be back and I thank God that I am here and alive today. It’s only through him that I am here today and I want to give him the praise for that.”
The veteran officer is expected back on the job within the next six months, but being the trooper that he is, he said he is hoping to shave that down to about three months.
