Take greater care of our children, urges basic school chairman in St Ann

Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer

As residents in St Ann’s Bay react with anger to the brutal murder of 14-year-old Ocho Rios High School student, Raven Wilson, an appeal has come from Devon Evans, chairman of the Bethel Basic School in Windsor Heights, St Ann’s Bay, asking parents and the wider community to take greater care of their children.

“I want to, on behalf of all students and staff, as well as all members of the extended Bethel family, express sadness and grief over the brutal slaying of our beloved past student Raven Wilson,” Evans said in a comment later shared on Facebook.

“All of us are grieving with the family of Raven. She was only 14 years old and very promising. I hope those who commit this cruel act will be caught soon and put away for life. In the meantime, I want to appeal to parents and members of the wider community to take greater care of our children. We have lost Raven.”

Said Evans: “It is our duty and responsibility to ensure that no more of our children suffer a similar fate. Yesterday many people on the scene of the crime were wailing and calling out for Jesus. It is equally important to start loving each other. Put away this hate, bad mind and grudge. Our children are our future and without them we can consider ourselves DEAD. By killing them we are only killing our own selves. People of St Ann's Bay and everyone else in Jamaica wake up and begin to love each other, protect each other so that killers of Raven and the many other unfortunate people do not find anywhere to hide amongst us. Rest In Power - Raven Wilson.”
 
Meanwhile, it was a sombre mood on Monday at Ocho Rios High School where Raven was a grade-nine student. A teacher at the institution reported that several students wept openly during the morning sessions as they grieved for their former schoolmate who was on the morning shift. 

The mood extended to the afternoon shift, even as a trauma team from the Ministry of Education visited the school, spending several hours offering grief counselling to students and staff at the institution. 
 
Raven was last seen by relatives early Friday morning as she left home for school. When she did not return on schedule a report was made to the St Ann police, but it was not until around 6:30 Sunday morning that her body was discovered in a garbage bag with her throat slashed.

The St Ann police are continuing investigations into the murder.

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