Students and staff of the Castle Bruce Secondary School are expressing feelings of sadness following the death of 13-year-old Kheanillia Barrie.
Barrie, who passed away today, was a first form student of the school.
“I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Kheanillia Barrie, a remarkable 13-year-old of Bataca who attended the Castle Bruce Secondary School,” Parliamentary Representative of the Castle Bruce Constituency, Minister Octavia Alfred said. “Her classmates and teachers are overwhelmed with sadness and her entire school body will miss her dearly.”
She continued, “My heart goes out to all her loved ones during this difficult time.”
Alfred added, “Words can never express the pain we feel in times like this.”
She said her ministry extends its deepest sympathy to the family during this difficult time.
“Losing a loved one is never easy, but please know that you are not alone,” she stated. “We are here to support you in any way we can.”
Alfred encouraged the family to take comfort in knowing that, “Kheanillia will always be remembered and cherished in our hearts.”
Additionally, she reminded them that the Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushing spirit, “and he will carry us through.”
Alfred said the death of a child is a tragedy beyond the reach of language, “and I humbly request prayers for the students of our Castle Bruce Secondary School and the grieving family.”
Dominica News Online (DNO) has since learned that Barrie died as a result of a respiratory illness.
She was the 2019 winner of the DBS Radio Ministry of Education National Reading competition.
Meantime, Alfred revealed that four (4) students received minor injuries following a motor vehicular accident that occurred in Castle Bruce on Monday morning.
“We extend prayers and speedy recovery wishes to the four students who were injured,” Alfred said. “We are thankful to God that the injuries were not major.”
According to Alfred, The Ministry of Education Human Resource Planning, Vocational Training and National Excellence also pledges its support to the families in any way necessary.
“Despite the situation, we give God thanks as we support each other during this challenging period,” she noted. “May God bless and comfort us all.”
She said her ministry also expresses gratitude and high commendation to the management and staff of the Castle Bruce Secondary School for the manner in which both situations were managed and the counseling, psychosocial and pastoral support given to students at the school this morning.
I know that many vehicle owners are struggling to put gas in their tank, and it’s even almost impossible for them to afford new or used tires. I see a great number of vehicles on the road with unsafe tires – some of these vehicles are passenger vehicles.
When there’s an accident the police would simply measure the width of the road and take a two line statement from the drivers. There’s no safety inspection of the vehicles. Some have very low brakes, no working signals, no horn, no brake lights, no rear view mirrors, and it’s just a mess what’s going on on our roads. Plus, a number of these “drivers” cannot drive. They paid for the license.
So young may she rip condolence to family and friends
Condolences to those left to morne the passing of a young life with such promise. May she rest in peace.
When dishonest politicians take centerstage during such a sad time for the community the pain is only doubled. This lying uncaring woman is now pimping this young child and her grieving relatives and friends. She told students stranded hundreds of miles from their families and support systems to ” shake their pampalam”, when she and the cabal she’s a part of failed them financially and didn’t keep the promise made to them, and she failed to explain fully the terms which applied before these vulnerable children left Dominica. Octavia, you’ll never be forgotten for sending young people from Dominica to denigrate themselves. Keep your hypocritical tears and sanctimonious utterances to yourself whilst those who genuinely love youth mourn their loss.
Sad day for Dca. We have lost one of our future leaders.
My sincere condolences to the family, friends, schoolmates, teachers and the island in general. May she rest in eternal peace with the ancestors. We have to be more careful on our roads.
Just look at the state of the tires on these vehicles which just about sums up the problems n Dominicas roads. Poor maintenance, reckless driving, speeding… Who enforces the Highway Code in DA? Nobody!
Condolences to the family, students and employees of the CBSS.
DNO .. did you deliberately omit Ms. Barrie’s cause of death??? Because the way your article is written one would surmise ( at least till the very end) that she died in that accident.
ADMIN: Thank you for pointing that out. We have since corrected the article.
What kind of news reporting is that nuh? Did the child die as a result of the accident in the photo or is the death a separate incident?
my thoughts exactly- I am so confused