‘She was a queen’

JENSEN LA VENDE

Senior Reporter

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Described as a cultural icon by Justice Minister Devesh Maharaj, Brian “Nyahbinghi” De Four says that while he is haunted by the murder of his daughter, it will not deter him from spreading positivity through music and Rastafarianism.

Police reported that around 8.45 pm on Friday, Makeda Sade Swift, 40, was the front-seat passenger of a Kia Cerato leaving Nyahbinghi’s Cultural Centre on the Eastern Main Road, Champ Fleurs, where she operated a nail salon.

A gunman emerged from a Nissan Tiida, attempted to drag her from the vehicle, and shot her before fleeing in the waiting car. Swift was rushed to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, less than a minute from the scene, but was pronounced dead at 9.10 pm.

Speaking with the media at his Market Street, St Joseph, home yesterday, De Four said the loss of his only daughter is a pain he struggles to articulate.

“After all these years doing the right things and something wrong happens to me, that hurts. But I wouldn’t give up that conscious fighting. I have to continue fighting. I can’t give up. Nothing can replace her. Nothing can replace my daughter. But at the same time, it has to go on. I have to be strong for the rest of the family,” he said.

De Four was comforted by Maharaj, who assured the media that the state would offer all support to the family.

“I had to come here as soon as possible and pay my respects to Nyahbinghi. He’s a treasured member of this community, an icon. This is a tragic loss to the community, and from a personal point of view, it’s inconsolable grief,” Maharaj said.

De Four dismissed suggestions that the minister’s visit was politically motivated.

“No, it’s not a political thing! He came to give me support, and I appreciate it. We need it,” he said.

De Four described his daughter as a “queen,” saying she was the perfect daughter.

“She was a queen, a beautiful queen. My daughter was a queen, a beautiful young lady. I couldn’t ask for a better daughter. And the loss is great. Words cannot express how I’m feeling right now. No words can express it,” he said.

Swift’s business neighbour, Petle Clavire, who had known her for four years, said her murder has shaken him and others in the compound.

“At some point, each one of the people on this compound would have been here late at night, like Sade. You feel insecure; you don’t feel safe to do extra work or hours because you never know what could happen. Cameras are around, but the killers didn’t care,” Clavire said.

He added that the crime reflects a troubling trend of brazen criminal activity.

“Criminal elements are concerned about being on camera, but they reach a lawless state where the camera doesn’t faze them. Even if they are caught, the consequences are minimal. They are brazen now—camera or no camera, they will smile on it at the next stage.”