Let God seek vengeance

This was the message which pastor Gerard Toby gave yesterday to the parents and relatives of baby Keyra Singh during her funeral at New Vision Ministries, Diego Martin Main Road, Diego Martin.

Toby pleaded with the congregation to praise God, instead of seeking vengeance for the two-year-old child’s murder. Keyra was killed on Tuesday morning when gunmen surrounded her Good Session Drive, Patna Village, Diego Martin home and riddled it with bullets.

Her mother, father and elevenmonth- old sister survived.

“I know it is hard to come to terms with the death of a child that is so young,” said Toby, “I know that the human in you would want to seek revenge. But when you take that revenge, it will come back to you. Do not take revenge, do not pick up a gun and take matters in your own hands, but take up the Bible.

No matter what has happened, let God deal with it. I could imagine how mummy and daddy were making plans for Keyra. She could have been this nation’s best prime minister or engineer or the next sports master... but we have to understand that life is short.” He compared the family’s ordeal to that of the biblical David who lost his child because it was conceived in sin. He said that even though David’s child was dead, he still went into the House of the Lord and gave praise. He told the congregation that praising God is the greatest weapon against evil that there is.

“All the gunmen that I have spoken to told me they have to ‘strap up’ because they never know what would happen, and all those men that I spoke to are now six feet underground. But God has given us a weapon called praise that is stronger than any weapon that man has,” said the pastor. “Give praise, because things could have been worse. All four of them could have been dead. You have to know that God has work for you. Your purpose now should be to walk into Patna Village and declare in the name of the lord that no one would die like this in your village again.” The pastor added that Keyra was an innocent child, and assured that she was “in the hands of the Lord.” Keyra’s funeral started at 2.30 pm at New Vision Ministries.

As relatives and close friends gathered at the small church, the officiating minister reassured the family would see the child again, but the reassurance did not stop the tears of her mother Neilya Singh and father Keron Paul.

Paul was seated at the first aisle, with his father at his side, supporting him and Neilya sat at the aisle behind him being supported by friends and relatives.

Kerron could be seen as the choir sang “Jesus loves the little children” clutching onto a single red rose and weeping bitterly for his daughter.

During Keyra’s eulogy, Jeamela Paul, her aunt thanked everyone for the support and love that they received.

“I remember the first time I saw Keyra,” said Jeamela. “She was so small, I was afraid to touch her, but she grew into a wonderful child. I believe that Keyra came to us with a purpose, because everyone was so separate before this happened, but I have seen people come together in love over the past few days.” Jeamela described Keyra as a “sprightly, outgoing child who was full of life” Other family members blamed parents for the amount of death in the nation. “The bible says train the children up in the way that they should go... but even in school, teachers cannot talk to the children.

The children of today want their own way and we as parents are giving in to them. Parents it is time, Jesus will soon descend.” said Marylin Raphael George, Keyra’s great-great aunt.

Neilya spoke out at the funeral, prompted by the family’s admonishing of parents.

“Oh gosh Keyra why!” cried Neilya, “My child was my everything.

You know mummy loves you. We didn’t ask for this. We were at home sleeping. No one knows what we went through. My child died in my arms. No one knows what we went through to mind my child. Keyra, you know mummy loves you, and I always will. I will never forget you.

Keyra was buried at the Carenage Public Cemetery.

While Keyra was being laid to rest, homicide detectives were still searching for a second suspect in the shooting. Police are still trying to determine whether the shooting was gang or drug-related, and said the intended target was Keyra’s father, Kerron. A man remains in custody assisting with investigations.