By -Carlisle Jno Baptiste
Hundreds of people from all walks of life converged on the Southern community of Soufriere to participate in a kayaking and candlelight vigil for Daniel Langlois and Dominique Marchand.
Dominica’s flag at half mask in tribute at the vigil
An emotional villager speaks to the press
Scenes of the vigil in Soufriere-All photos by Carlisle Jno Baptiste of Nature Isle News (NIN)
Jonathan Scott Lehre and Robert Thomas (Rob) Snyder Jr from St. Petersburg, Fla, have been formally arrested and slapped with two murder charges.
Police allege that Lehrer and Snyder Jr. murdered Langlois and Marchand sometime between Nov. 29 and Dec. 2 at the Bois Cotlette Estate, a chocolate plantation owned by Lehrer, near the small town of Soufriere.
At the vigil that lasted for just about 90 minutes, staff, hoteliers, and government officials gathered at the “jetty” built from funds from Daniel Langlois to pay tributes.
Many sent reefs in the sea as a tribute to the couple.
Among those in attendance were Sam Raphael the owner of Jungle Bay Resort located just about a quarter mile from each other.
Raphael labeled the actions meted out on the deceased as “evil and wicked.”
“They did not deserve to be treated that way,” he stated.
Chekeria Lockhart-Hypolite who was at the function representing Tourism Minister and Member of Parliament for that constituency Denise Charles says the hundreds who gathered at the vigil is “a clear testimony of the impact that the couple had made not only in the community but on the tourism sector.”
“They made significant contributions and touched the lives of persons in the community, I will have no hesitation in recommending that something be named in their honour as a testament to their work and contributions to the community,” she said.
Magdalene “Maggie” Hunt Fontaine who cooks for the couple says, “He (Daniel) was like a father…my backbone, my all what no one has ever done for me, Daniel has. I have a hole in my heart that no medicine can heal, I can’t eat and don’t know how long I will grieve and continue to cry.”
She continued, “I miss them so much; they were my all and they have been taken away from me…the whole community is grieving. I have known them for over 26 years, I don’t know when I will stand on my feet.”
Affectionately called “Maggie” by the couple, she says that she will miss that “sweet voice on the phone of Hello Maggie.”
“I cook for them, they don’t eat anywhere, I spoke to her (Dominique) at about 3:44 pm on Thursday, and they said they don’t need children, I do not hear that sweet voice anymore, because when I called, she would answer, hello Maggie,” she sobbed.
“No more Dominique, no more Daniel, if I get a hold of Jonathan I would chop him, chop him, and chop him because what he did is not right, he was jealous of Daniel and Dominique. Jonathan is worse than Satan because Satan would not even do such an act,” Maggie sobbed bitterly.
The vigil then proceeded to the Church grounds bayside where a bonfire was light with the Dominica flag at half masked representing the love for the couple and their love for Dominica.
As the ceremony ended people left flowers nearby, and, some were thrown into the sea and the words uttered, “Daniel and Dominique, we love you all, we will miss you all, rest in enteral peace, Daniel and Dominque.”