Violence at schools sparks call for safe zones, police presence
Published:Saturday | November 16, 2024 | 7:47 AMAndre Williams/Staff Reporter
A worrying trend of brazen violent attacks at schools has prompted urgent calls for enhanced security measures at education institutions across Jamaica.
Over the past month, deadly incidents have unfolded at Rousseau Primary School in St Andrew and Holmwood Technical High School in Manchester.
At Rousseau Primary, located at 1 Ricketts Avenue, two violent episodes occurred just 32 days apart. On October 14, gunmen killed Gary ‘Junior’ Leslie, a parent, in a chilling attack inside the school compound.
Yesterday, another deadly shooting took place at the school’s main entrance around 8:30 a.m., claiming the life of 36-year-old taxi operator Deshawn Newry. Witnesses reported that Newry was dropping off a child at the main gate when the attack happened. Classes were suspended for the day.
Both incidents occurred during school hours, leaving students and staff traumatised.
A parent of a student at Rousseau Primary expressed deep concern for her child’s safety.
“A police post is needed at the school. Security guards without firearms are no deterrent,” she told The Gleaner yesterday.
She recounted how her daughter, present during both incidents, was left terrified.
“Last month and now again – this is too much. I’m going to the school Monday to speak with the principal,” the parent stated.
Over in Manchester, tragedy also struck Holmwood Technical High School yesterday morning.
Rohan ‘Scrooge’ Gentles, a school bus driver, was fatally shot while waiting to transport the school’s under-16 and under-14 football teams to a match. The attack, which occurred around 8:00 a.m., led to the suspension of classes at the institution.
CREATE ‘SAFE SPACES’
These incidents at learning institutions have sparked outrage and calls for action from education stakeholders.
In a release yesterday, newly appointed Education Minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon stated that “the ministry unequivocally condemns acts of crime and violence in all its forms, particularly those that threaten the safety and security of our students and the school environment. Schools must remain safe havens for learning, development, and growth, free from the shadow of violence.”
Opposition Spokesperson on Education, Senator Damion Crawford, is urging the Government to create ‘Safe Spaces’ around key institutions such as schools, hospitals, and transport hubs.
“These horrifying incidents underscore the urgent need for enhanced security measures to safeguard our educational environments,” Crawford said in a media release on Friday.
He proposed implementing scheduled police patrols and introducing harsher penalties for crimes committed within a 400-metre radius of designated ‘Safe Spaces’.
Crawford also called for the swift apprehension of perpetrators. “The Government must take immediate and comprehensive action to protect our children and school staff from such violent crimes,” he stated.
In the October 14 shooting at Rousseau Primary, gunmen targeted Leslie as he exited a white Toyota Probox on the school compound. Reports indicate he was ambushed by two men who opened fire, hitting him in the head before fleeing.
Investigations into all three incidents, spanning separate police divisions, are ongoing.
The violence at educational institutions has left parents, educators, and policymakers grappling with how to ensure the safety of children and staff amid Jamaica’s crime wave.