When Noval Rowe opened his mouth to speak at the thanksgiving service for his daughter Danielle Rowe, it took about a minute before he could utter a word.
He hardly shed a tear throughout his tribute, but his face showed he was feeling immense pain. Before reading the first lesson, from 1st Corinthians 15:50-58, the distraught father, who was supported by three of his relatives, said Danielle, whom he affectionately called 'April', was a loving child. He said their bond was unbreakable.
"On a day like today, there were times when she would be by my house with me. Normally you would hear people say that their child is an angel, but my daughter is an angel. She is the most loving person I know. By now, everybody should know that I am sick and there is never a time that she came around me and she didn't ask me 'Daddy' yuh alright?' There was never a time that she came around me and didn't tell me how much she loved me," he said.
Danielle, eight, was abducted from Braeton Primary and Infant School in Portmore, St Catherine, in June and later found with her throat slashed in St Andrew. She succumbed to her injuries at hospital.
Rowe told the gathering at the Portmore Seventh-day Adventist Church on Port Henderson Road that he last saw his daughter on her birthday on May 16. He said as usual, she was elated to see him and told him that she knew he would have showed up and not disappoint her.
"My daughter did not deserve this. She did not deserve it. There are a whole lot of speculations and a whole lot of rumours. Some are absolutely disgusting and repulsive statements that have been made. Whosoever took my daughter's life took someone who wanted to be a vet. I wanted her to be a nurse but I would not force what I wanted on her," Rowe said.
Among the mourners were education minister Fayval Williams along with members of her team. She said that based on the feedback from Danielle's teacher, it was evident that she was a well-rounded student, and one who had a bright future ahead of her.
"The anger and hurt are compounded by the fact that we do not yet have answers, despite the many efforts and work of the security forces. Danielle is being described by her teachers as reserved, soft spoken, well behaved and extremely polite, and ladylike. She was a top girl for 2022 leading into 2023 and was top girl placing third overall and first among the girls in her mid-year exams," she said.
As she condemned the youngster's murder, the minister said she is imploring anyone who saw or has information on her killing who could assist the police to step forward.
"The attacker or attackers must be brought to justice. Let us make use of the opportunities available through Crime Stop and other channels to report what we know," she said.
