Following our report recently on a fight incident at the Golden Grove East Coast Demerara Secondary School, in which a 16 year old male student was stabbed to his lower back by a fellow student, his distraught mother, Onama Montrose, appeared on our affiliate podcast ‘Below De Belt’ to share her concerns.
In the interview which lasted just over an hour, Onama related to host Sherod Duncan that on the day in question her 14 year old son confided in his older brother (the 16 year old stabbed student) that he was being bullied at school and that when he complained to the teacher he was not getting any redress. She added that her 16 year old son then took the initiative to go to the school to enquire why his brother was being bullied and why the school had not taken any disciplinary action against the perpetrator.
However, on their way to the school they met the teacher on the road since school was dismissed for the day. Onama told ‘Below de Belt’ that her 16 year old told her that he asked the teacher about the incident and what the school is doing to address the same. She said that the teacher then told her son that the incident is being addressed by the School’s head.
“The Fight”
It was sometime during that conversation between the two brothers and the male teacher that the ‘School’s bully’ passed and shoved the 14 year old on his shoulder, prompting the 16 year old brother to react by chucking the perpetrator. It was at that point a group of about no less than ten boys rushed the 16 year old and started kicking, cuffing about his body, and ultimately stabbing him. All this according to the mother took place in front of the teacher who did nothing.
The mother expressed shock over the fact that at a Parents Teachers Association (PTA) meeting the next day the teacher told her that he did not get involved because, “I don’t want no one to tell my family I died as a hero.” The mother has vowed to ensure that she gets justice for her son who she said doesn not get in trouble with people and is a very quiet child.
Only last month, Joel DaSilva, aka ‘Busta’ an irate father of another 16-year-old student of the said School, who was stabbed by a fellow student with a pair of scissors, appeared on HGPTV Nightly News pleading for justice for his son. He related in that interview how the incident had left his son traumatized and scared to return to school.
The Golden Grove Secondary School (PTA) is calling on the Ministry of Education to take serious action against the students involved in violent altercations at the School. They are also recommending a change of leadership at the School since the Head Teacher and some senior staff appear to be intimidated by bullies at the School.
More, In The Ring.
