CARRYING candles and whispering prayers for the family of murdered schoolgirl Mercedez Layne, hundreds walked through the streets of Los Iros during a vigil on Saturday evening, united in grief and asking for more protection of children.The streets of the community were filled with relatives, friends, residents, concerned citizens and some politicians who paid tribute to a child whose tragic death has left the nation mourning.Many were dressed in white as they walked together in remembrance of the young life lost too soon.As the procession moved slowly through the area, prayers, hymns and messages of hope echoed through the crowd.Throughout the event, speakers urged the public to become more vigilant and proactive in protecting children from harm.Residents said the vigil was not only about honouring the child’s memory but also about ensuring that the tragedy inspires meaningful conversations about child safety and prevention.One speaker delivered a passionate appeal for greater awareness of child safety measures, saying the tragedy should serve as a wake-up call for parents, caregivers and communities across the country.“We need to protect our children,” the speaker told the gathering. “We need to wake up, people. Every child deserves to be safe, and it is our responsibility as a society.”The emotional evening was marked by several moments of prayer, including a special prayer for the child’s mother, who was hospitalised just days after the devastating loss of her child.Together for MercedezAmong those addressing the crowd were Member of Parliament for La Brea Clyde Elder and political leader of the People’s National Movement Pennelope Beckles.Beckles said, “As MP Elder said, while we belong to different parties, but we come together here today for Mercedez. We are here as politicians, but mainly because we understand the challenge, the pain and the hurt for the family and the people. Her mom is in the hospital, so we say a special prayer for her so she will recover. We know that a mother losing a daughter under those circumstances, it is very difficult. We say a special prayer for her to deal with the pain.”Many in attendance bowed their heads as prayers were offered for her strength, healing and comfort during what speakers described as an unimaginable period of grief.The funeral for 12-year-old Mercedez is scheduled to take place tomorrow, when relatives, friends and community members are expected to gather once more to say their final farewell.On the afternoon of June 6, the primary school student was reported missing when she did not arrive home after being put in a taxi by a relative earlier that day.Her body was found the next morning in bushes approximately 500 feet along a dirt road in a secluded area near oil pipelines and a well on Carapal Road, about ten minutes from her home on Los Iros Beach Road.A post-mortem concluded that she was beaten to death.Detectives of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations of Region Three carried out investigation and Richard Renalis, 26, of Beach Road, Palo Seco, was arrested and charged with murder.He was denied bail during a court appearance last Thursday.