Mark Titus, Freelance Writer

A two-year-old photograph of Britannia Robinson who, along with two family members, perished in a blaze on Tuesday morning. She was 10 years old. - photo by Mark Titus

WESTERN BUREAU:

"Me little girl gone," said a teary-eyed Ralston Robinson as he stood staring at the burnt-out dwelling house that had been home to his only child Britannia since birth.

"Me and me daughter was so close that some a the times me have to wonder if is she responsible for me," he said, "sometimes she would take up her phone and call me just to find out if I am all right, now me little girl gone.

"The last thing she told me on Sunday was 'daddy, when I get big, I going to buy you a car and a big house'. Now all of those dreams gone," said the distraught father. His 10-year-old daughter perished in a fire, with her 76-year-old grandmother, Francella Johnson, and her aunt Verona Johnson, 31, which engulfed their five-bedroom house in Kilmarnock, St. Elizabeth, on Tuesday morning, about 4:45 a.m.

Feeling of gloom

The gloom that hung over the death scene seemingly engulfed the entire community, including the Kilmarnock Primary School which young Robinson attended.

When The Gleaner team arrived, principals from the northwest St. Elizabeth cluster of schools, along with guidance counsellors, were conducting counselling sessions with the more than 100 students and five teachers.

Nodlyn Daley, who taught her from the lower grades through to grade six, described Britannia as a very brilliant, confident, industrious and responsible student.

"Whenever a teacher is away from their class, you could always send her there and know that she would do a good job, because she loves to teach and help her fellow students."

An obviously-shaken Icelyn Blackwood, principal of the school, said the school has been in a sombre mood since the news of her cruel death broke.

She also echoed the sentiments of her colleague, that Britannia was a born leader, was the top student at the school, and was among 11 students down to sit GSAT next year.

"As a matter of fact, I was working with her to get a scholarship this year."

While not being able to fully come to grips with why her best friend had to die the way she did, little Tia Maitland has vowed to improve on her schoolwork to honour the life of young Britannia.

mark.titus@gleanerjm.com