KERON Bailey promised to reward his younger brother John-Michael Hett with money if he passed six Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) subjects this year, but that is a promise neither brother will be able to keep, for 16- year-old Hett was on Wednesday laid to rest in a tearful ceremony at The Church of Jesus Christ on West Avenue in Kingston.

The teenager, a student of Dunoon Technical High School, was slain on December 9 in Portsmouth, Portmore, St Catherine, during an incident which mourners said was cruel, untimely and undeserved.

Even before the start of the service, students and teachers alike wept openly as they viewed the body of their former classmate, charge, and friend.

Hett’s form teacher, Donna Brown, could not hold back her tears. “I have been his form teacher since he was in grade nine and I must say I am very sad. To tell you truth, I am very hurt. I am hurt, but most of all, I am angry.

Angry because he was one of the persons I would say is innocent. He is an innocent youth who just turned 16 in November and he was a student I was very close to,” Brown told the Jamaica Observer in almost inaudible tones.

She added that Hett was among her favourite students because of what she said was his impressive attire, good behaviour and positive attitude towards learning.

“He was a prefect and not a class monitor, but he often acted as the form monitor of the class. He was the one who did most of the class monitor’s work.

I’m so speechless and hurt right now,” Brown said as she wiped tears from her eyes. Veneshia Lemonious, Hett’s science teacher, also commented.

According to her, Hett’s academic performance was satisfactory and she was expecting him to produce good grades in the upcoming sitting of the CSEC exams. “I taught him in the last two years. In my class, he got grades such as 70 and over.

It is very sad. He was a well-behaved student, disciplined and hardworking,” Lemonious said.

Dunoon’s principal, Shawn Aarons, who stood silent among his colleagues outside the church for most of the proceedings, told the Observer that he was still shocked that of all the students at the school, Hett was the one who lost his life in such a cruel manner, and during the festive season at that.

“When I think of John- Michael it’s difficult to find words. However, the aspect of him I would like to reflect on is that he always wanted to challenge himself. He always wanted to do something new. He was always on the go. That is what I will take from him. Always being busy.

Always moving up and down,” Aarons said. Hett’s brother, Bailey, who now resides in the United Kingdom, was unavoidably absent from the service. However, he penned a tribute which was read by his wife, Marsha.

“I promised him a monetary incentive and a bonus if he passd with distinctions. He told his mom he would have passed with distinctions.

I encouraged him to strive for excellence; however, that will not be,” Marsha said. Numerous tributes in song by teachers and students of Dunoon and nurses of the Bustamante Hospital for Children where his mother, Una Hett, serves as a nurse, followed.

The teachers did a rendition of Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ In The Wind. The students followed with renditions of I’m Free, Lean on Me, and Bridge Over Troubled Water.

The nurses later paid tribute with Ride Out Your Storm and Beulah Land. Officiating Minister Pastor Odel Powell told the mourners to use the occasion to reflect on the happy moments they shared with Hett before he was shot.

“Just as Hett suffered before his death, God’s only son Jesus died also. Yes, he was a friend, a son and a schoolmate whose life was very short, but be encouraged,” he urged.

Hett was buried at Meadowrest Memorial Gardens in St Catherine.