It has been ten days since Strathspey Primary pupil, Mark Harrypaul, was cremated, and his still-grieving father is seeking justice for his son who died at the Georgetown Public Hospital three weeks ago following an incident in the school’s compound.
Mark’s father, Roy Harrypaul, told Stabroek News yesterday that the Ministry of Education took care of the funeral expenses. The family was initially told by police that a file was prepared and sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Roy mentioned that it was the last piece of information communicated to the family and they are demanding justice in the matter.
Eleven-year-old Mark of Lot 4 Vigilance North, East Coast Demerara, died after a gate in the school’s compound was slammed shut by another student, striking him at the side of his head and resulting in a laceration.
Sushmita Singh, the boy’s mother, had told Stabroek News that she was informed by the school’s headmistress (HM) via telephone that another boy accidently slammed a gate shut causing it to strike Mark. As a result of the incident, Mark suffered injuries and was sent home. Singh said that at first, she was concerned about her son’s condition but was reassured by the HM that everything was alright as she had dressed the wound. While at home, the boy was given Panadol to treat his headache and was put to bed. However, he was later rushed to the hospital by his father where he succumbed to his injuries.
The other boy involved in the incident is a 14-year-old student of Buxton Secondary School who reportedly would frequently go to the primary school and bully the pupils there. This information was disclosed to the mother by other parents who came forward the next day to express their concerns about incident. She said according to what her son related to her on the day of the incident, the 14-year-old student took his rag and he retrieved it. The rag was taken for a second time and when Mark was attempting to take it back, the 14-year-old ran and while running slammed the gate causing her son’s head to strike it. A post-mortem examination revealed that the boy died of a fractured skull (epidural hematoma) as a result of blunt trauma to head.
