SCREAMS of hurt and pain echoed throughout the small Seventh Day Adventist Church at Santa Cruz Trace in the rural community of Matelot yesterday, during the funeral service of teenager Kylie Garcia.

Scores of villagers, friends, relatives and schoolmates of Garcia braved the scorching sun which, at times, was interrupted by scattered rain, in an attempt to bid farewell to Garcia, 15, who was stabbed to death during a confrontation with another pupil on Monday.

Garcia's father, Aldwyn, collapsed at the back of the church and had to be taken to the nearby Matelot Health Centre for treatment while her younger sisters, cousins and mother, Andress Garcia, cried uncontrollably and had to be consoled by relatives.

Delivering the eulogy, Garcia's aunt, Paula Garcia, called on fellow villagers to unite and use her death as a wake-up call. She described Garcia as an individual who loved singing when she attended church. She said Garcia loved her two sisters dearly and often expressed her love by making snacks for them.

"As a villager, we all need to look at ourselves and ask ourselves are we doing enough for our people?" she said.

"We need to move away from backbiting, hating your neighbour, passing your mouth on other people's children and, instead, practise love. Kylie's tragedy is not just one that has occurred in Matelot, but at a national level and, therefore, we must do our best to ensure we don't lose any more of our nation's youths."

She added, "Like most teenagers, Kylie wanted to do things her way, and that created some discomfort with her father and mother. She loved her father so much but because of his stern approach towards her, there were tensions at times."

Also speaking at the service was People's National Movement (PNM) councillor for Toco/Fishing Pond Terry Rondon, who told the congregation they must do all in their power to ensure such incidents never reoccur in Matelot.

He said from Tuesday, he intends to embark on a massive beautification initiative in the Matelot community where he was born and raised. November 16, he said, would be a day of prayer for the community, which would "bring joy back into this village".

"This village is hurting. We are going to bring back Matelot; pray and ask God that incidents like this (Kylie's killing) may never happen in this village," Rondon said.

"This is a wake-up call to all parents, villagers, teachers and police officers. Let us take back our village. We have to work as a team, and this is not the time for bickering. It's time for us to pull together."

After the service, Garcia was laid to rest at the nearby cemetery.

Garcia was stabbed to death during an altercation with another pupil while walking along the Paria Main Road in Matelot, just after school was dismissed. Both Garcia and her attacker attended the Matelot Community School.

The 17-year-old schoolgirl detained by police in connection with Kylie's death was released on Thursday after Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard ordered an inquest into the incident when police investigators sought his advice.