Rihanna's Dad Says He'll Support Her Choices

By Siobhan Morrissey

02/28/2009 at 11:30 AM EST

Learning that his daughter and Chris Brown have reconciled, Rihanna's father says he supports the singer in her decisions.

"Whatever road she chooses, I'm behind her," said Ronald Fenty, when reached by telephone on Barbados. Fenty took the reunion in stride Saturday, as he worked selling novelty items on a street corner in downtown Bridgetown. He says he hasn't spoken to his daughter since earlier this month, for her 21st birthday, and only found out about the reconciliation through the media.

"We are a family who stick together even though we are apart," he tells PEOPLE.

Rihanna and Brown have been in Miami Beach together, almost three weeks after Brown, 19, allegedly battered the "Umbrella" singer on Feb. 8, a source tells PEOPLE.

"While Chris is reflective and saddened about what happened, he is really happy to be with the woman he loves," the source says.

As for Rihanna, Fenty would only say, "She's a smart girl." When asked what he would tell Brown as a father, he demurred, "I have no comment on Chris Brown."