By Shuntel Glasgow
The families of two children who were recent victims of school violence along with a few others, staged a small peaceful protest in front of the Strathspey Primary School yesterday. The exercise was led by the parents of 11-year-old Mark Harrypaul, who died after he was struck in the head when a teenage boy slammed a gate shut at Strathspey Primary School. They were joined by the family of 16-year-old Jamal Reid who was seriously injured when he was struck in the head with a cricket bat at Golden Grove Secondary School.
Roy Harrypaul and Sushmita Singh had expressed dissatisfaction with the advice of the Director of Public Prose-cutions (DPP) that no charges be brought against the 14-year-old whose action caused their son’s death. As they stood with placards in front of the Strathspey Primary School and demanded justice for their son, Roy Harrypaul told Stabroek News that the Ministry of Education had pledged support for the burial of their son. However, he said, after the funeral, they were neglected.
The grieving father said that many public-spirited citizens reached out to him after the DPP’s decision. He added that many people were in support of the protest, despite the turn out. During the protest, ranks of the Guyana Police Force indicated to the father that his presence was needed at the Regional Commander’s office.
“They said the commander want to have a word with me,” Harrypaul said. “All the time you don’t want to have a word with me now sudden so. All of the police know where I’m living, because when they come to take statement when the incident happen, they find them way. If you want to speak with me, I give the officers my number.”
He pledged that they will continue to protest and demand justice for their son’s death until the matter is dealt with in the way it should. He concluded that the teenager should face the law for his actions.
“My child didn’t die normal. If that child wasn’t there, my child would have been alive on a day like today. If he wasn’t there to slam that gate into my son head, my son would have been alive,” Harrypaul lamented. “A big 11-year-old turning 12 the 11th of September. He was supposed to sit Grade Six assessment in the next three weeks.”
Odessa Primus, a parent who participated in the protest, told Stabroek News that while not every parent was directly affected by the issue, all parents should be. Primus clarified that although it was proven to be untrue for the family, children were being sent to schools and left in the care of adults who were assumed to be protective. The child lost his life in an unfortunate manner and it was disappointing that the family was not supported, she added. Furthermore, school incidents of this nature would often occur and as a result children were left disabled in some instances. While the school incidents still raise more questions than answers, an intervention from the Ministry of Education was yet to be seen, Primus stated.
“We do not see an intervention from the Ministry of Education. Should that be interpreted as saying we don’t care what happens in the schools; we don’t care what happened to your child? While you may not say that directly, that certainly is the indirect message that, as parents, for example, that’s how I feel. I am sorry don’t bring back people’s children,” she said.
Primus expressed disappointment at the way in which matters of this nature are being dealt with and referenced complaints and videos that surfaced on social media platforms that were yet to trigger an anti-bullying campaign by the Education Ministry or the Guyana Police Force.
The incident which led to Mark Harrypaul’s death occurred almost five months ago, but the file that was sent to the DPP for advice was only returned to the Vigilance Police Station last Wednesday. Harrypaul’s parents were duly informed that no charge was recommended against the teenager. However, the DPP advised counselling sessions for the 14-year-old involved in the incident, a student of Buxton Secondary School, who reportedly frequented the primary school and bullied the pupils there.
A post-mortem examination had revealed that Mark Harrypaul died of a fractured skull (epidural hematoma) as a result of blunt trauma to the head.
Jamal Reid
The family of Jamal Reid said the file in his case had been sent to the DPP then returned to the police for further information. However, they only learned of this when they visited the DPP’s Office asking about it.
On Thursday November 9th 2023, Reid was struck in the head with a cricket bat by another student, in his school’s compound. He sustained a fractured skull on the right side of the parietal bone and this was accompanied by internal bleeding as a result of several damaged blood vessels. Severe blood clotting placed pressure on the brain and resulted in swelling.
Hollyann Bess, Reid’s mother, told Stabroek News that her son was still experiencing complications and doing therapy. Reid was placed on life-time seizure medications and his daily life became unpredictable. Doctors have advised that he be restricted from a variety of activities.
“He can’t even do housework,” Bess lamented. “I have to left he to do whatever comfort him to prevent him from headache. Jamal life is not like before. He would answer me rude, but they tell me to expect that. He is not so helpful at home anymore, he just want do what he feel free in doing and they say let I leave him.”
Bess explained that some days her son was hopeful and full of aspirations and educational talks, on others he appears to have given up on his future. The mother, who cried throughout the interview, said she was still encouraging Reid to do better as he battles with his new way of life.
Pheona Carrol, a spokesperson for the family, explained that Reid has to wait one year for the replacement of the skull that was removed. The piece that was removed would be replaced with a metal cap. Carrrol emphasised that there are consequences for one’s actions.
Reid underwent an emergency surgery for the internal bleeding, blood clotting and fractured skull. The surgery was successful and two tubes were inserted in his head on the left and right sides to filter clots of blood. Two pieces of his skull had to be removed from both sides of his head and they were replaced with skin.
The limbic system in the brain that is responsible for Reid’s behavioural and emotional responses was damaged. He is unable to express his emotions effectively, which makes it difficult for the family to differentiate between happiness, sadness and fear.
The 16-year-old accused of wounding Reid at Golden Grove Secondary School was arrested for 72 hours and later released on station bail.
