Kerry Skeete tells of seeing daughter blossom since receiving kudos for selfless act

By Anesta Henry

If someone had told Kerry Skeete a few weeks ago that her 15-year-old daughter Kerrisha Skeete would be doing back-to-back interviews she would not have believed them. 

As a matter of fact, the mother of three is still in disbelief that her firstborn confidently accepted the Barbados Bravery Medal from President Dame Sandra Mason in the presence of the thousands who attended the Independence Day Parade, at Kensington Oval on Wednesday.

Admitting that she, too, has been overwhelmed with the tremendous attention her daughter has been receiving since the teenager’s highly publicised act of helping a man who was having a seizure on a minibus, Skeete said she was blown away by the “new” person Kerrisha has become.

“I feel like I have a completely different child. I have a whole new Kerrisha. She has moved from a child who would just observe but barely say anything, to someone who is handling herself well with interviews and being able to carry on conversations with the President and the Prime Minister and other officials. 

“When we went to State House after the parade, everybody was asking her questions and she was handling herself so well. In the space of a week, my child has a new confidence that has blown me away. Since this happened she has been talking a lot and I am really proud,” a beaming Skeete shared during an interview with Barbados TODAY at her Maynard’s, St Peter home.

While the nation has fallen in love with Kerrisha’s humble, mannerly and gentle spirit, demonstrated in her several media appearances in recent days, Skeete said the Frederick Smith Secondary School student has come a long way.

Just a few days before attending her primary school graduation, Kerrisha received the tragic news that her father, who was scheduled to walk up the aisle with her, was gunned down. 

Skeete said that for many years, Kerrisha struggled to cope with the untimely death of her father with whom she had a close relationship.

She recalled that Kerrisha became “super quiet” and sought comfort in AnimeKon.

“Kerrisha has been through a lot. It was rough. It was tough on Kerrisha. I used to almost ask her why she has to be so weird, why she always got to be so different because I wasn’t really understanding her.

“Then it was harder for her when she actually first went into secondary school. She was bullied and they were telling her how fat she was – as she spoke about the interview yesterday. When she passed, they used to be dropping remarks.  But she wouldn’t answer them back, Kerrisha would never answer you back. She would not get into even a fist fight, she would run. I can’t see Kerrisha being someone to retaliate. She is just a child who would take it and she never says much,” Skeete said.

She said even though she struggles to make ends meet as a single mother, she speaks to her children almost daily about being helpful and kind to others. 

“And while her father is not here, it is not me raising her alone and I give thanks for everybody who helps because it really takes a village to raise a child. And I am very happy that her village has taught her how to be kind and generous to others. Because the truth is that when her dad died she could have channelled her energy in a different way. 

“She could have been a very angry, bitter, rebellious child. But I was lucky to not get that side of her, even though I was looking for something like that to come. She is going to be 16 years old tomorrow [Saturday] and she still remains a humble soul. What you see with Kerrisha is what you get. To know Kerrisha is to love Kerrisha,” the proud mother said.

Indicating that she was fully aware other mothers may be struggling to raise children who have lost their fathers to gun violence and other crime, Skeete has encouraged those parents not to give up, even when the going gets tough.

“Don’t give up on your children. I never thought that my child would be where she is today and I am so proud of her. Even when I kept talking and I thought she wasn’t listening obviously, she was. Parents, you cannot give up, you always have to keep trying, always keep pushing forward.

“Keep motivating your children and showing support. Keep showing your children love. I know it is a lot of hard work, especially when it comes to times that dads are needed. Talk to your children even when you think they are not hearing,” Skeete advised.

While taking time out to help her daughter reap the rewards of her kindness, Skeete said she soon has to turn her attention back to planning an outreach Christmas event for needy families in her community.

She explained the idea for Christmas on the Court was born out of conversations she had with residents who lamented they did not know how they would be spending the Yuletide season given the challenging economic times.

“So, it started as every time I got some money I would put aside some to try to make up some hampers for at least five families in the neighbourhood who are in need, even though I am struggling myself. 

“So now I am trying to get some sponsorship to try to give at least 15 families in the area a food hamper. I am also doing a toy drive to try to give to at least 150 children because this is a housing area where there are lots of children. 

“I am trying to see if I get a lot of local artists to come and perform and I am trying to give the children and the parents food. I am just trying to bring the community alive and help everybody in these hard times,” she said. 

anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb