Queen Nikki mourning loss of father

Dancer-turned-dancehall artiste Queen Nikki is mourning the loss of her father, Errol Haye.

The vibrant 62-year-old, who lived in Westmoreland, had long been a fixture on her social media accounts. He died on August 24.

"He was a healthy man; him have arthritis but it nuh really bother him like that again," she told THE STAR. "He was sick for like two days, him have the wicked flu weh a go round. He went to the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital and before dem even give him the oxygen him pass away just like that."

Westmoreland has been grappling with managing the spread of COVID-19, with the parish reporting 73 new cases on Monday and one COVID-related death on the weekend. From August 8 to 15, Westmoreland recorded 29 COVID-related deaths. Despite this reality, Queen Nikki declared her dad was coronavirus-free and that the autopsy is pending.

She said it was her spouse who broke the news after she awoke and overheard her son on the phone with her mother.

"I woulda never, ever think me woulda get that news seh mi father dead because is not a sickly man. Him just call me the other day and seh him have flu and want to go to the doctor and if mi can send money fi him go," she said. Queen Nikki wasted no time in getting the funds to her dad whose last words to her were "Thank you" and "Later".

I cried a lot

"It's been very terrible for me, I cried a lot," she said. "Thanks to my kids and my partner, dem keep me up ... Even when me want some time alone dem nah allow me fi do that ... If mi a cry mi daughter woulda come and seh, 'Mommy, grandfather dead. Don't worry, everything is gonna be all right'. Mi son woulda come hug me up and kiss me and seh, 'Mommy, you'll be all right'. My partner always deh deh wid me in everything weh mi do 'cause mi couldn't do nothing, so him haffi up a do all a the things dem a mek sure mi all right." Queen Nikki has also received support from her fans.

"My father was very supportive when it comes to my career, anything at all mi choose to do," the former dancer said. "When I decided to transition over to music it wasn't a problem, him just seh, 'Remember, anything weh yuh do, mek sure you do clean version for it, and I need some music from you that can play on the radio'."

She added, "I'm working towards a goal where I told my dad that I'm going to achieve that, and also do a couple of things for him. Trust me, I'm still working there 'cause him a go see it same way."

Queen Nikki is set to star in the reality show Boss in the City next month.