Prime Minister Kamla Kamla Persad-Bissessar wept on Monday as she consoled the parents of Daniel Guerra, the murdered eight-year-old Gasparillo schoolboy who was last seen alive on Friday.
And she promised the bring the killer to justice.
"I am deeply pained by what has happened, what comfort can I give this family, except to say we cannot let this go unpunished and do all we can to ensure that not another child's life is snuffed out. He could have been a future leader," she said.
She thanked the police for their effort in trying to find Daniel and urged them to do everything possible to find the killer "so this monster cannot attack another child." She added, "If it is we have to bring in international expertise we will bring this perpetrator to justice."
"We must leave no stone unturned to bring this monster to justice. Whoever is responsible for this, we must find that person and the full brunt of the justice of the law applied," she said.
"As parents, not a single child should ever be left for one moment alone because there are sick minds. There are monsters and therefore we have a duty as a nation to be the keepers of every single child. So I ask everyone...never leave a child alone for one moment at every step of the way."
Persad-Bissessar told the family the Government will cover the cost of funeral expenses and counselling for the family.
Little Daniel stayed away from school on Friday because he was ill. He went to the next-door parlour to buy sweet drinks and when he didn't get what he wanted he went to another business place a little further down the road. He never returned.
One witness told the boy's grandfather someone in a care pick up Daniel. On Sunday evening police found his decomposing body in a flood-swollen river at Tarouba.
An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday, which would likely reveal how the child died and perhaps reveal clues about the killer.
Dozens of villagers had gathered at the family's home when the Prime Minister arrived with the MP for the area, Dr Surujrattan Rambachan, who visited the family Sunday, and Education Minister, Dr Tim Gopeesingh.
Persad-Bissessar hugged Daniel's grandmother, Shirley Indarsingh, and they wept.
"I can't find words to describe the kind of pain and sadness we all are feeling right now.
"The death of anyone is painful enough, but when it is a child I don't know if there has been a single person who has not been plunged into grief and pain at this time. As a mother and grandmother I can feel it in my stomach," Persad-Bissessar said.
The PM invited Rambachan to pray for the family and she led mourners in singing three hymns, before meeting Daniel's mother, Rona Indarsingh.
"She is very bereaved, but she is a child of God and that is her rock and comfort at this time. There are no words I can say to her. We have offered mundane things to assist but at this time we can only trust and pray," Persad-Bissessar said.
Persad-Bissessar seized the opportunity to talk about the need to reintroduce execution for convicted killers. "Let us pass the law to reintroduce the hanging," she said.
"That bill is now before Parliament...Let us pass that bill so that when we can find this monster, they can feel the full brunt of the law of the punishment of taking a life.
Grandma Shirley Indarsingh said, "The Prime Minister is a good person, I am sure she will make sure we get justice. I want this person behind bars. I want him to be the first hanging."
Gopeesingh told reporters his ministry has sent guidance counsellors to the Gasparillo Government School. Daniel was a standard two pupil there.
And she promised the bring the killer to justice.
"I am deeply pained by what has happened, what comfort can I give this family, except to say we cannot let this go unpunished and do all we can to ensure that not another child's life is snuffed out. He could have been a future leader," she said.
She thanked the police for their effort in trying to find Daniel and urged them to do everything possible to find the killer "so this monster cannot attack another child." She added, "If it is we have to bring in international expertise we will bring this perpetrator to justice."
"We must leave no stone unturned to bring this monster to justice. Whoever is responsible for this, we must find that person and the full brunt of the justice of the law applied," she said.
"As parents, not a single child should ever be left for one moment alone because there are sick minds. There are monsters and therefore we have a duty as a nation to be the keepers of every single child. So I ask everyone...never leave a child alone for one moment at every step of the way."
Persad-Bissessar told the family the Government will cover the cost of funeral expenses and counselling for the family.
Little Daniel stayed away from school on Friday because he was ill. He went to the next-door parlour to buy sweet drinks and when he didn't get what he wanted he went to another business place a little further down the road. He never returned.
One witness told the boy's grandfather someone in a care pick up Daniel. On Sunday evening police found his decomposing body in a flood-swollen river at Tarouba.
An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday, which would likely reveal how the child died and perhaps reveal clues about the killer.
Dozens of villagers had gathered at the family's home when the Prime Minister arrived with the MP for the area, Dr Surujrattan Rambachan, who visited the family Sunday, and Education Minister, Dr Tim Gopeesingh.
Persad-Bissessar hugged Daniel's grandmother, Shirley Indarsingh, and they wept.
"I can't find words to describe the kind of pain and sadness we all are feeling right now.
"The death of anyone is painful enough, but when it is a child I don't know if there has been a single person who has not been plunged into grief and pain at this time. As a mother and grandmother I can feel it in my stomach," Persad-Bissessar said.
The PM invited Rambachan to pray for the family and she led mourners in singing three hymns, before meeting Daniel's mother, Rona Indarsingh.
"She is very bereaved, but she is a child of God and that is her rock and comfort at this time. There are no words I can say to her. We have offered mundane things to assist but at this time we can only trust and pray," Persad-Bissessar said.
Persad-Bissessar seized the opportunity to talk about the need to reintroduce execution for convicted killers. "Let us pass the law to reintroduce the hanging," she said.
"That bill is now before Parliament...Let us pass that bill so that when we can find this monster, they can feel the full brunt of the law of the punishment of taking a life.
Grandma Shirley Indarsingh said, "The Prime Minister is a good person, I am sure she will make sure we get justice. I want this person behind bars. I want him to be the first hanging."
Gopeesingh told reporters his ministry has sent guidance counsellors to the Gasparillo Government School. Daniel was a standard two pupil there.
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