Haile Clacken being kept alive
Determined not to let her son’s dream die with him, Lilieth Clacken, the mother of former journalist Haile Ammifeca Clacken, who was killed in a bizarre shooting incident in Cheapside, St Elizabeth, earlier this year, is spearheading a foundation in his honour.
Named the Haile Clacken Bipolar Awareness Foundation, the organisation is designed to bring attention to the medical condition the York University graduate struggled with during his life.
“We want to launch this bipolar awareness foundation to draw attention to this issue, which many persons suffer from but are undiagnosed,” said the mother, who is determined to keep her son’s memory alive. “I am very hopeful that something good can come out of this painful experience.”
While the foundation will not be officially launched until May 6, 2018, the date on which her son would have celebrated his 37th birthday, Clacken has assembled a board to drive the work of the organisation. Listed among the members are renowned dub poet-entrepreneur Yasus Afari; attorney-at-law Shashu Clacken; psychiatrist, Dr Doret Garvey; and Tony Clacken, Haile’s father.
“The board features a wide cross section of persons who we believe will be able to collectively contribute to keeping my son’s dreams alive,” said Clacken.
Clacken was allegedly shot and killed by a security guard after he climbed on to the top of an armoured vehicle in St Elizabeth. His death sparked several days of protest in St Elizabeth. The guard implicated in the killing was subsequently charged with murder.