Dear Editor,
I WRITE with great concern about the recent incidents of violent bullying in our schools. My concern as a citizen of this country is that we rarely get feedback as to the outcomes of these investigations. In the case of the Muslim student from Berbice whose hijab was ripped off as she was beaten by another student and sustained an eye injury, we know that the police and the ministry’s welfare got involved. It will be interesting to know the outcome of this investigation.

Two weeks ago, another child, eight years old, was beaten with a piece of wood and a bottle and was hospitalised with the prognosis that he may lose an eye. I have been searching the papers and internet to see again what the authorities have done, but to no avail. As a result, I decided to visit the child in the hospital and was devastated to see his condition. The mom was at Mercy Hospital trying to arrange for an MRI for her son and the grandmother was with the child. Money was an issue as the cost of the MRI was close to $200,000. I was told that no one from the ministry or elsewhere came to offer comfort, financial help or moral and emotional support to the child or parents.

It was private citizens like myself who were showing up and offering help that made the MRI possible. The mother said she received a call from the ‘child rights’ people only on Thursday, asking her name and if anyone visited the child to which she replied in the negative. The mother is distraught that no teacher, parent or anyone in authority visited her child. She has three younger children and this is a really difficult time for her.
I was told that the school was saying that the child had an abscess and that is why he was losing the eye, so I guess there was no need to investigate and give the family an update. The beating did not mean much to anyone it seemed. In frustration, the grandmother showed me the MRI results which clearly showed that the wood had a rusty nail that resulted in what she claims is “blood poisoning,” resulting in the liver swelling, thus causing the swollen tummy and the eye to worsen as a result of inflammation, etc., which the medical experts can explain better. The child is now being treated accordingly and it is hoped that his eye can be saved.

The third incident is with the six-year-old whose hand was gashed out with a broken bottle in the school’s compound by another pupil. I spoke with the mother who said that the Ministry of Education came into the school and questioned the relevant persons. She is very upset since she feels the matter is not being handled professionally. She, like the other parents, feels that the incidents are being turned as if it’s their children’s fault. In her case too she has had to run with her son from doctor to doctor, because of the great pain in him. The bills are piling up and she is asking who is going to compensate her. She was obviously upset when a transfer document was prepared at the school and in the column where the ‘reason’ was, the teacher put ‘incident’ and when she enquired if she doesn’t have to explain, she says that’s all she can put. The parent claims she took it to the deputy HM who was visibly upset on seeing this and demanded that the teacher “white out” that and put ‘as per parent request’.

I just decided to call the Berbice parent as it has been a while since that incident and she is still angry; she feels that her daughter was not given justice. She said the police did do their investigation and was told that the file was sent to the DPP. She is hoping to hear from that office soon. However, she feels that the students there need more professional counselling and not persons who will be judgmental over their lives. She insists that the video posted on social media is enough evidence as to what had transpired.
I am just an ordinary citizen who is looking on. I feel the least The Ministry of Education can do is acknowledge that these incidents happened on their premises, apologise to the parents and show compassion to the children with a simple visit.

In my opinion these children have experienced grievous bodily harm and I feel this is a criminal offence; that the victims and perpetrators need professional counseling; that these kids be put on some kind of bond for five years to maintain good behaviour to not have a recurrence and for other students to see that BULLYING will not be tolerated in schools. The Ministry of Education should enforce anti-bullying policies to minimise this problem.
And from a personal level, parents have to do more from within their homes to monitor their kids by teaching them kindness, compassion, tolerance, etc., and also avoid acting out negative adult behaviour in front of kids; and finally, monitor their use of violent games and social media.

I am sure that the Rights of the Child Commission, Child Link and the Child Care and Protection Agency have been informed of these and other incidents and will be on top of these matters, so that these kids can recover and rehabilitate to continue to live bright, fruitful lives; the public is waiting to hear something. A nation that does not show concern for its young and vulnerable is bound to suffer in the years to come.
Regards
Saudia Ferouz