THE mother of 11-year-old Kareem Alphonso who was murdered last Saturday morning has accused the government of only seeking the interest of "high-profile" families when crime affects them.

"He was a child. He was preparing to write his SEA (Secondary Entrance Assessment) exam next year. He did not even get time to live. And since they killed him I have not seen a minister or anything as yet," Keyzec Monroe said yesterday.

She was speaking to reporters while awaiting the arrival of her son's body at the Forensic Sciences Centre, Federation Park, St James.

Monroe said she believed if her family had been living among "the rich and famous" government officials would have made it their priority to pay her a visit.

She said because she resided at Church Street, Laventille, this was highly unlikely to happen because of the stigma attached to the area.

Monroe said although a visit from someone in authority would not raise her son from the dead, it would still be comforting to know that someone cares.

In addition to this, Monroe said she was struggling to raise enough funds in order to cremate the boy. Any assistance from the government would be appreciated, she said.

Around 12.25 a.m., last Saturday, Alphonso was in the company of two friends, Jacob Peters, 19, and Justin Abraham, also 19, when a gunman approached and opened fire.

Alphonso was shot four times about the body and died while at the Port of Spain General Hospital.

His funeral service is expected to take place tomorrow at the Muslimeen Mosque on Mucurapo Road, Port of Spain at 1 p.m. —Rickie Ramdass