UTech students, staff demand justice for Anisa Dilworth

 

Scores of students and staff at the University of Technology staged a protest on Monday morning demanding justice for Anisa Dilworth.

 

The first year pharmaceutical technology student who hails from Montego Bay, St. James, has been missing for nearly two weeks. 

 

Skeletal remains believed to be hers were discovered on Saturday. 

 

Police reports that are, about 11.30 a.m., they were alerted to the discovery of humans skeletal remains on a beach in Portmore, St. Catherine and went to investigate. 

 

While formal identification is awaiting results from forensic analysis, the investigators believe the remains belong to Anisa, based on evidence found at the scene.

 

Her father, Everton Dilworth, who was among protesters Monday morning, said he had a close bond with his only daughter.

 

Mr. Dilworth said they would communicate at least three times per day. 

 

The father of three said he knew something was wrong on the evening of May 6 when calls to Anisa's cell phone went unanswered.

 

"Say about 7 p.m., I call her and not getting a response. Right away I just knew, I have a bad feeling, a really bad feeling because she normally respond within minutes. Alright, mi give her the benefit of the doubt. I say probably [her] exam finished, so she's out with two friends having a drink or something like that.... So I call her up to 9:57 p.m. The phone rang. After that, it [went] straight to voicemail. I send somebody to check on her in the night, meaning knock on her door, no response. I say no, that's not right."

 

The father said he asked her landlord to make a check the following morning, but Anisa was still not home. 

 

Mr. Dilworth journeyed to Kingston and filed a missing persons report at the Papine Police Station on May 7.

 

Ten days later, an investigator called Mr. Dilworth asking him to identify a key that was found near where the skeletal remains were located.

 

He said the key opened the door to his daughter's apartment.

 

"It's draining. It's tearing me apart. It's a feeling I can't explain, meaning if I'm home and she's there, her presence alone just fill the place....So it basically is like the other part of me.... She has my password to everything...and I did not give it to her either. She just know it automatically. And I don't hide anything. So, you know, it's hard. It's hard," the father bemoaned. 

 

 

In the meantime, the University of Technology said Anisa's disappearance is a stark reminder of the urgent need to address the epidemic of crime and violence. 

 

President Dr. Kevin Brown said no family should endure the pain of losing a loved one to senseless violence, adding that meaningful action is urgently needed at both the community and national levels to prevent such tragedies. 

 

Meanwhile, the UTech president said in the coming days, the university will share ways in which its community will come together to honour Anisa's memory and support each other.

 

Dr. Brown said counselling and support services have been made available to all students, faculty and staff, through the universities, the chaplains and counselling unit.

 

The university said it will also review security protocols for students and staff, particularly students who live off campus. 

 

UTech said during this time of profound sadness, the university community will continue to keep Anisa's family in its thoughts and prayers. 

 

Investigators are continuing to question the suspect held in connection with the disappearance of the UTech student. 

 

The inDrive taxi operator was taken into police custody over a week ago for questioning. 

 

Radio Jamaica News understands that investigators carried out a raid of premises in St. Andrew today as part of their ongoing search for evidence in the case.