A scholarship has been established at St John’s Primary School in memory of nine-year-old Kelsey Ferrigon who, on Monday, was remembered as “the little girl with a contagious smile who lit up her classroom” and whose “positive energy always lifted the spirits of those around her”.

Principal Louise Clarke announced the scholarship during an emotional thanksgiving service for the life of the former grade three student whose body was found stuffed in a barrel at her home on Job Lane, Spanish Town, St Catherine, on May 9.

“Mothers really shouldn’t have to bury their babies, and caskets really shouldn’t be this small. Rest assured, however, Mom, that the name Kelsey Ferrigon will live on at St John’s Primary — that great institution where she was a student for a short time — through the kind initiative of a scholarship presented to us by the St Catherine Chamber of Commerce. Rest in eternal peace, Kelsey. You will reside where no harm will befall you. Baby girl, you will always be missed but never forgotten,” the principal told mourners at Spanish Town Seventh-day Adventist Church on Brunswick Avenue.

Clarke, during an interview with the Jamaica Observer, said that the value of the scholarship has not been finalised; however, it will be an annual initiative.

“The president of the St Catherine Chamber of Commerce, he came by, Mr [Dennis] Robotham, and a team. They offered condolence and sympathies and asked how they could keep her memory alive in a very tangible way, and they came to us with the idea of a scholarship. So we have spoken to her mom, because in order to honour her using her name we had to get the approval and consent of her mother. So we spoke to her mother, and she agreed. At this year’s school-leaving ceremony… the top girl will get a special award and also a cash scholarship. We don’t know the value of the scholarship as yet, but they are working on it. They have something in mind, and they are thinking of increasing that amount, and it will be annual,” she said.

Clarke welcomed the initiative, stating that she is both elated and ecstatic to know that Kelsey’s memory would be honoured in such a manner.

“She was a quiet child. Her current teacher shared that she was a bright, hard-working student who always showed great enthusiasm for learning. Kelsey was by no means a troublemaker or a troubled child. In fact, her teacher further described her as the problem-solver; the one who was always trying to fix whatever was wrong in the class and also fixing when her classmates fell out of line,” the principal said.

During the service, Kelsey’s schoolmates and teachers wept as they took their final peek at the little girl, dressed in a bright pink dress, in her pink coffin. Her family and other relatives also wore bright pink attire in remembrance of the youngster.

Kelsey’s gruesome murder sent shock waves across the island, with several people condemning the brutal act. It was suspected that she had been beaten and sexually assaulted.

Days after her body was found, Giovanni “Coolie Man” Ellis, who had been named by police as a person of interest in connection to the incident, was shot dead by cops in Sandy Bay, Clarendon, in an alleged confrontation. Ellis was reportedly on bail for a charge of cruelty to a child.

On Monday, a female resident of Job Lane countered criticism that the community had failed Kelsey.

“We come just come to show our last support because she is a baby, and I have kids. I never lose one, but I know as a mother it hurts very much — even when you know your child is supposed to come from school… and even when you are sharing dinner, you know that she is not there,” the woman said.

“It makes me open my eyes much wider because I have four girls; the last child is two years old, and even my kids, they are scared. They are very, very scared. It just shocked the whole community. A the first time this ever happen inna Job Lane, and I see people going about saying we fail Kelsey, no! I tell them say if I did know say that guy in the area I would report it to the police, but I never knew,” she told the Observer.

“The guy, him dead too smooth. I don’t know what he was thinking when he did that to little Kelsey. Kelsey didn’t deserve this death, a swear. It shake the whole community, and the worse thing is that it happen in Child Month,” she said.

Among the mourners were Gender Affairs Minister Olivia Grange, who represents the community in Parliament; Education Minister Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon; William Mahfood, chairman of Wisynco Group; Custos of St Catherine Icylin Golding; representatives from Child Protection and Family Services Agency; and St Catherine North Police Division.

Grange, in her tribute, urged Jamaicans to return to the days of a village raising children to ensure that there is no recurrence of an incident of this nature.

“In Kelsey’s name we must commit to resurrecting these values that kept many of us safe in the good old times. When the village raises a child, every child’s safety is placed at the forefront of community life. When the village raises a child, every child is assured of protection, guidance, and active watchfulness. When the village raises a child, everyone’s child is our child. When the village raises a child, the child is able to achieve his or her dreams and ambitions and not likely to be cut down in the midst of childhood. Rather, the children of the village grow to see the fruit of their efforts, the fulfilments of their ambitions, and the country’s assurance of its best and most productive citizens,” she said.

“To members of my constituency, I make a special appeal that we be more vigilant as we continue working together to care for and protect our children. We must be deliberate in fostering a safe environment for our children. I want to say to the police… thank you for your swift and decisive response to this horrendous act against little Kelsey. We send a strong message that violence against women and girls are not tolerated,” Grange said.

Minister Morris Dixon, too, urged individuals to sound the alarm on child abuse, adding, “As we lift Kelsey’s family and friends in our prayers today, may we always and also pledge to honour her life by building a Jamaica worthy of her memory. Sleep peacefully, sweet Kelsey, may God bless you and may God bless all of us.”