Boulder incident survivor wants to go to school
Eager to get back to school, Shenelle Brown uses her tablet in the meantime. (Joseph Wellington)
One of two girls who got injured in a horrific incident last November, that saw their brother being killed by a boulder, badly wants to go back to school.
Shenelle Brown, aged eight, who lost her 12-year-old brother Raheem Davey when the boulder rolled from the hills above the South East St Mary village of Broadgate onto their aunt’s house while they watched television, is anxiously awaiting the time when she will put on her uniform and take up her books again.
Her twin sister, Jhinelle, who was also injured, has since recovered and has been attending school.
“I just want to go to school,” Shenelle told the Jamaica Observer during a visit to the community last Wednesday.
Although she is eager to continue the journey to gaining knowledge, Shenelle is due to undergo skin graft surgery tomorrow.
The boulder rolled from the hills overlooking the community that lies nine kilometres west of the town of Annotto Bay, destroying the house and sending the nation into shock.
Shenelle, who received more severe injuries than her sister, has spent time at the Bustamante Hospital for Children in St Andrew where she benefited from the use of a ventilation machine and had two of her toes amputated.
Her mother, Charmaine Newell, while still grappling with the death of her son, is grateful that her child will receive additional care and suggested that Shenelle is anticipating a positive outcome.
The surgical procedure, Newell said, is expected to cover a section of Shenelle’s foot.
“Shenelle is anxious, but she tries to remain positive. She just wants to be able to go back to school and I want to see her live somewhat of a normal life again,” Newell said.
Newell also revealed, that she will be meeting with Government officials tomorrow to finalise the relocation process.
Following the tragedy, Local Government and Community Development Minister Desmond McKenzie visited the area and gave the Government’s commitment to assist the family in finding a suitable place to relocate. The Government also assisted with the funeral arrangements for Raheem, a former student of the Castleton Primary and Junior High School.
Newell said that discussions with the State’s representatives have been going well, and a suggestion was made for her to possibly consider relocating to Esher in Central St Mary, close to the town of Highgate and about a 15-minute drive from Broadgate. The
Sunday Observer understands that a house is being looked at in Esher and may be offered to the grieving family as a temporary or permanent alternative.
Broadgate, part of the winding Junction Road, has suffered from several landslides which have caused the main road to be blocked on several occasions, leading to a pile-up of traffic on the busy roadway that links St Mary to the other north-eastern parishes of St Ann and Portland.
However, it was the first time that a boulder had rolled off the hills and claimed a life.