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KENNETH David, 15, a fourth form pupil of Brickdam Secondary School, in Georgetown was hospitalised with injuries after being attacked by a vagrant yesterday.
The attack, which took place when the boy was on his way to school, was by a man of unsound mind. A teacher, who did not want to be named, said she learnt that the lad was walking in the vicinity of Public Buildings when he was suddenly pounced upon by the man, who dealt him two lashes with a piece of wood.
She added that, following the incident which was witnessed by David’s brother, a telephone call was made to their parents, who turned up at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) where their son, injured in his head and on one hand, was being treated.
At the scene, the mentally ill man was rescued by Police after passersby began raining blows on him.
He, too, was taken to the GPH for medical attention and was placed under Police guard.
Reports said that the schoolboy may have received life threatening injuries if persons who witnessed the unprovoked assault did not go to his aid.
Kenneth David’s elder brother, Kevon David, had minutes before dropped him off and continued on his way to work when he received a telephone call that his younger sibling was being assaulted.
Efforts by this publication to contact the Permanent Secretaries of both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security yesterday were unsuccessful and this reporter was told the Ministers were also unavailable for comment.
The Guyana Chronicle tried, as well, to get the Chief Education Officer and the Director of Child Care and Protection Agency but was informed by secretaries that they were both locked in a meeting.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry is planning to have a joint commission, involving the Human Services and Social Security Ministry, to address the issue of homelessness, particularly among mentally ill persons.
Health Minister Dr. Bheri Ramsaran told reporters recently that his ministry will collaborate to place social workers at the night shelter, to assess the condition of persons who visit the facility. He notes that not all persons who visit the shelter are mentally ill, and social workers will have to determine their needs.
Human Services and Social Security Minister, Jennifer Webster also recently indicated that while persons make use of the night shelter, they are not legally confined there, and most choose to leave and dwell on the streets. The Government of Guyana is currently in the process of establishing a modern facility to accommodate the homeless at Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara.
Minister Ramsaran believes that this will help decrease the number of people living on the streets.
The attack, which took place when the boy was on his way to school, was by a man of unsound mind. A teacher, who did not want to be named, said she learnt that the lad was walking in the vicinity of Public Buildings when he was suddenly pounced upon by the man, who dealt him two lashes with a piece of wood.
She added that, following the incident which was witnessed by David’s brother, a telephone call was made to their parents, who turned up at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) where their son, injured in his head and on one hand, was being treated.
At the scene, the mentally ill man was rescued by Police after passersby began raining blows on him.
He, too, was taken to the GPH for medical attention and was placed under Police guard.
Reports said that the schoolboy may have received life threatening injuries if persons who witnessed the unprovoked assault did not go to his aid.
Kenneth David’s elder brother, Kevon David, had minutes before dropped him off and continued on his way to work when he received a telephone call that his younger sibling was being assaulted.
Efforts by this publication to contact the Permanent Secretaries of both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security yesterday were unsuccessful and this reporter was told the Ministers were also unavailable for comment.
The Guyana Chronicle tried, as well, to get the Chief Education Officer and the Director of Child Care and Protection Agency but was informed by secretaries that they were both locked in a meeting.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry is planning to have a joint commission, involving the Human Services and Social Security Ministry, to address the issue of homelessness, particularly among mentally ill persons.
Health Minister Dr. Bheri Ramsaran told reporters recently that his ministry will collaborate to place social workers at the night shelter, to assess the condition of persons who visit the facility. He notes that not all persons who visit the shelter are mentally ill, and social workers will have to determine their needs.
Human Services and Social Security Minister, Jennifer Webster also recently indicated that while persons make use of the night shelter, they are not legally confined there, and most choose to leave and dwell on the streets. The Government of Guyana is currently in the process of establishing a modern facility to accommodate the homeless at Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara.
Minister Ramsaran believes that this will help decrease the number of people living on the streets.
