Staff members at Hilton Kingston hotel, in New Kingston, shed tears during a prayer meeting at the hotel for their missing colleague, Julian Smith, a team member from their banqueting department, on Wednesday. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

STAFF AT the Hilton Kingston hotel held hands, sang lustily and prayed on Wednesday that divine intervention would bring home their colleague, Julian Smith, who has been missing since December 8.

Around 30 members from various departments at the New Kingston hotel gathered in their 'fun room' yesterday to sing hymns and offer thoughts of hope for the 23-year-old, who police said was last seen at a Western Union outlet in Duhaney Park, on December 9.

The police said Wednesday that they had made no breakthrough in Julian's case, which is being treated as a disappearance.

Julian, who has worked in the hospitality department for the past eight months, is originally from Kellitts, Clarendon. She lives at Abernethy Drive, in Duhaney Park.

Prepare for the worst

During Wednesday's morning service, Reverend Al Miller told Julian's co-workers to prepare for the worst.

"We have to face it, although we don't want to think that she may well be dead," said Reverend Miller. "he may yet be alive, but whatever happens each of us must work it through, think it through, talk it through and pray it through so that we can go on."

Sanjay Smith, Julian's brother, who also works at the Hilton, told The Gleaner that he last saw his sister at work the day before she went missing. The eldest of five siblings, Julian Smith moved to the Corporate Area, two years ago.