School shares memories of fallen student

Nine-year-old Cunjah Browne, whose life ended in a vehicular accident last Monday, has been described by his teachers as a helpful, playful and active student.

In an effort to come to terms with the tragedy, teachers and pupils of the Lodge Village Government School have been speaking with consellors provided by the Ministry of Education; and last Tuesday, held a vigil at the spot,{{more}} just yards from the school, where the grade 4 student took his last breath.

When SEARCHLIGHT visited the school on Tuesday afternoon, Browne’s class teacher was too grief-stricken to give a statement. However, Nichole Snagg, the reading teacher at the school, recalled her experiences with Cunjah.

“He didn’t spend a full day with me; he would come and just see me, but you know he was full of life, always want to be challenged and not a bad student at all. He always wanted to do what you tell him to do and he would go out of his way to assist you in little things.”

She also recalled Cunjah’s love of sports and his ability to mingle with everyone around the school.

“He loved sports…the main thing is that he was full of life, always active, smiling, you know, he would mingle with so many other students, not only his classmates, but … I would see him with grade six students …he mingles with a lot of the other children,” the teacher recalled.

Jomar Richard, who many referred to as Browne’s best friend, was still visibly shocked, but recalled some of the good times they shared together.{{more}}

“We used to play marble on the hill and when I been now move up ‘pon the hill, he come and play with me.”

Classmate Fionza Laborde tried to muster a smile when speaking to SEARCHLIGHT, but was soon engulfed by sadness.

She explained “I felt sad and I didn’t like it….He was very good and he used to do well in his school work…I used to tell him behave yourself and catch van safely.”

Ovia Boyce, another classmate who sat next to Cunjah in class, stated that he always looked to help the students and would share with those who didn’t have much.

“Cunjah was a fine boy. He used to tell us jokes and play. If we didn’t have any break, he would look to share with us,” Ovia recalled.

She also offered up some advice for students who use the roads: “Always be safe; do not push your head out of the window and look up and down before you cross the road.”

Head teacher at the school June Russell told SEARCHLIGHT that Cunjah was much like other pupils.

“Of course, like all children he would have his little problems and cause little problems, but he was not overly bad or something that we couldn’t go with,” the head teacher stated.

She recounted the many little chats she and Browne would have in her office.

“He would come in here and he would sit with me just to chat and every evening he would say ‘Bye miss I’m gone’.”

Russell said the school is still trying to come to grips with the reality of Cunjah’s passing and expressed her gratitude for the counsellors from the Ministry of Education who came and sat with them.

“It was very rough; at the Lodge Village Government School, we are a family and everybody knows Cunjah — all the students, all the teachers, so it was a very, very sad day for us.”

Browne died on Monday when his head hit on a utility pole when the passenger van in which he was travelling swerved suddenly.(CM)