PEP triumph after tragedy

After 11-year-old Antowne Anthony Hylton, Primary Exit Profile (PEP) scholar, heard that he was placed at Jamaica College (JC) days ago, his first reaction was to go to the grave of his deceased mother, Nadine Williamson.

Williamson was found dead inside her home by her younger son, Romario on May 23, 2020. Her boyfriend was charged with her murder and is still in custody having been denied bail.

“I went to her grave and I told her which school I passed for and I swept [it] off,” Antowne told The Gleaner on Wednesday at his home in Berry Hill, Irish Town, which is located near to his mother’s grave.

That was not the only good news he had for his deceased mother. Antowne is now the William Parkes Memorial Scholarship recipient for 2024.

Copping this scholarship will result in the soon-to-be Craighton Primary School graduate receiving the value of $600,000 for his school-related expenses throughout his secondary level studies at JC.

With the tragedy striking suddenly four years ago, Antowne told The Gleaner that the road to recovery has been difficult.

The numerous counselling sessions and push to excel during the three years of PEP was not an easy feat for him, but he stayed on course and is now excited to be reaping the fruits of his labour.

“I feel very good,” the shy youngster of few words responded when asked how he felt about receiving the scholarship.

He said it was the support of his family, especially his grandmother, Beverly Barrett; his aunt, Natalie Williamson, and his teachers that made him excel.

“When I’m at home, I studied and when I’m at school, I take in lots of my education,” Antowne said.

Chiming in, Natalie said Nadine, who was a domestic helper, would have been proud of Antowne’s achievement.

“Nadine was the mother and father of her kids. It was she and them from day one; from the get go… . My sister was talking to this guy … . They were dating for two years and he was living here with her at the time, but things went down... ,” Natalie said.

“She decide seh it nah go work… . Nuh care how she talk to him, and remember they had a relationship, so she never did a go dash him out,” she said.

She said when she got the phone call that Nadine was found dead, she was left speechless and dumbstruck.

The sisters and mother reside in separate units in Irish Town, but in the same yard and land along with other family members who are the very same people who now care for her two boys, Antowne and his younger brother, Romario.

Nadine was discovered lifeless by Romario, who went to give his mother a cellphone from his grandmother because someone wanted to talk with her but calls to her were not being answered.

Before suffering a stroke in May, the 62-year-old grandmother of the scholar was an active vendor who cared for the two boys by using profits she made from selling in the capital city.

Additionally, Natalie suffers from poor circulation, swelling and is diabetic. These issues and more have been a strain on the family, but Antowne’s success now gives them much to rejoice, as he has shattered the glass ceiling by being the first male in the family to pass PEP for a traditional high school.

“Listen, mi feel good! Mi feel good! Mi feel good! Ah can’t express words how Antowne makes me feel and the family. Fi know weh Antowne go through right here, because him mada never dead of an accident or a normal death enuh. She was murdered here,” she said.

With regard to Antowne’s father, they say he is believed to live either in Trelawny or St Elizabeth, and has not been playing the active role they would have hoped of him.

Antowne has high hopes of becoming a mathematics teacher who pushes the Government’s mandate of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and is already looking forward to passing Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) subjects in mathematics, English language and the sciences.

“My teachers at Craighton Primary School, [especially] Mrs Allen, she has encouraged me to become a mathematics teacher. She has been the help from I was in grade one. She has pushed me and now I’m at Jamaica College,” Antowne said.

Antowne was the top student in grade five at Craighton Primary School and awarded for the subjects religious education, reading and mathematics.

ainsworth.morris@gleanerjm.com