HUNDREDS yesterday gathered at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Brickdam, to bid farewell to 18-year-old Pearl Amanda Cornelius, the Guyanese who perished in a fire described as “Barbados’ worst human tragedy” on September 3 last.
Cornelius, an employee of ‘Campus Trenz’ clothing store, at Tudor Street in Barbados, was among six persons who perished in the inferno, following a robbery and fire-bombing of the facility on the ill-fated evening.
The service was conducted by Reverend Steve Patterson, and veteran organist Jane De Freitas added to the solemnity and sacredness of the occasion.
Deep anguish prevailed throughout the approximately two-hour service, and many emotional tributes were paid by relatives and friends, who described  ‘Amanda’ as an ‘affectionate, pleasant, charming, and polite’ young woman – full of life, and well-liked.
Additionally, she was remembered as one with a ‘thirst for life’, ‘hunger for knowledge’ and eminently ‘fashion conscious’.  Her brother, Akeem, no older than six, rendered a moving tribute in song, reassuring  “I will always love you.  I will always miss you.”
Amidst pain of loss, the question was continually asked: “Why? Why this senseless and unnecessary act?”

But Celebrant Reverend Steve Patterson, also touched by the death, urged the bereaved to take comfort in the knowledge that “Light will always overcome darkness at this hour.”
Amanda who, at the time of her death, resided at Block 3, Apartment 312, London Bourne Towers, Bay Street, St. Michael Barbados, was the first of two siblings to her parents Nicole and Andrew Cornelius.  Born in Guyana on November, 12, 1991, she received her secondary education at Richard Ishmael Secondary School, and in 2002 migrated to Barbados where she continued her education and also attended St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church.
She is survived by parents, brother Akeem and many other relatives and friends.  Following the service at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, her body was interred at Le Repentir Cemetery.
Two male Barbados nationals have since been charged for the crime which claimed the lives of Cornelius and five others.