Tweet
Schools at war
Four students seriously injured in fights downtown Kingston
INGRID BROWN, Senior staff reporter browni@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, April 25, 2008
These St George's College students wait anxiously yesterday outside the Kingston Public Hospital where a schoolmate was admitted after he was allegedly stabbed by a group of Kingston College students. The boy at right, who had taken the injured student to hospital, still had blood on his hands while waiting outside the hospital. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)
FOUR schoolboys have been seriously injured after two days of violent clashes among students of St George's College and Kingston College (KC) in downtown Kingston, which has reportedly spilled over into neighbouring schools.
Students from both high schools told the Observer yesterday that there was a growing unease since the violence started, with some fearing they could become the next victim of the reprisal stabbings and beatings which have been taking place since Wednesday.
Yesterday, despite the intervention of the principals of both schools, yet another student was attacked and stabbed in the back as he made his way to a bus stop in downtown Kingston.
The boy, a third form student at St George's College, was admitted to hospital in serious but stable condition.
Also yesterday, a Holy Trinity student allegedly boxed a St George's boy in the face at the school gate, causing serious swellings to his face.
On Wednesday, a group of KC students allegedly attacked a St George's student, chopping him in the head, which required five stitches. In retaliation, a group of St George's boys allegedly ganged up on a KC boy, beating him mercilessly.
A schoolmate who took the injured St George's student to the Kingston Public Hospital still had his hands covered in blood when the Observer spoke with him late yesterday afternoon.
He said his St George's colleague was walking with another friend when he was attacked and stabbed twice by a group of KC students when they reached John's Lane.
Visibly shaken, the St George's student said he immediately pulled his handkerchief, which he used to stop the bleeding.
"First time me used to fret about the violence every time it flares up in the schools, but once I was at a sporting event and violence broke out and I got stabbed in my legs, so now I don't worry about it anymore," he said.
Principal of St George's, Margaret Campbell, who confirmed the incidents, said she and the police were scheduled to meet today with the KC students to ensure the violence does not escalate any further.
Campbell told the Observer that the KC principal, along with a group of his upper school students, yesterday met with a group of upper school St George's students to try and resolve the issue.
Despite this, she said teachers had to escort St George's students to downtown Kingston yesterday to ensure that they got safely to their bus stops.
In the meantime, the St George's principal said the school would continue to take all the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of students. "The teachers will continue to walk the students to the bus stops and the police will continue to maintain a presence in the area," she said.
Meanwhile, a teacher who requested anonymity told the Observer that the violence among the students started after a St George's student boxed an Alpha High School girl, who had allegedly called him names.
The girl allegedly reported the matter to a KC upper school student, before the matter was brought to the attention of the St George's College principal who called in the parents to have the matter resolved.
A confrontation, our source said, developed between both students which eventually caused a series of violent confrontations between members of both schools, as well as the neighbouring Holy Trinity High School. Campbell, however, said she has not had any evidence to suggest that Holy Trinity students had become involved in the conflict.
"Now the students who are being injured are the innocent ones who are caught up in what is happening," the teacher said.
Last night, the Observer was informed that students of Calabar High on Red Hills Road had decided to show solidarity with St George's College and had issued threats that Kingston College students who visit the transport centre in Half-Way-Tree would 'do so at their own risk'.
Police Inspector Carlyle Farquharson told the Observer that officers would be maintaining a presence in the downtown area to help maintain peace between the rival schoolboys.
He said he was informed by a KC student that he had to remove his tie so as not to be identified with the school for fear of reprisals.
One KC student said boys from his school were not afraid as students from St George's were no match for them.
"The boy they beat up from KC is an innocent youth and him come to school today with his face swell up and he couldn't even go to class," said the student.
Four students seriously injured in fights downtown Kingston
INGRID BROWN, Senior staff reporter browni@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, April 25, 2008
These St George's College students wait anxiously yesterday outside the Kingston Public Hospital where a schoolmate was admitted after he was allegedly stabbed by a group of Kingston College students. The boy at right, who had taken the injured student to hospital, still had blood on his hands while waiting outside the hospital. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)FOUR schoolboys have been seriously injured after two days of violent clashes among students of St George's College and Kingston College (KC) in downtown Kingston, which has reportedly spilled over into neighbouring schools.
Students from both high schools told the Observer yesterday that there was a growing unease since the violence started, with some fearing they could become the next victim of the reprisal stabbings and beatings which have been taking place since Wednesday.
Yesterday, despite the intervention of the principals of both schools, yet another student was attacked and stabbed in the back as he made his way to a bus stop in downtown Kingston.
The boy, a third form student at St George's College, was admitted to hospital in serious but stable condition.
Also yesterday, a Holy Trinity student allegedly boxed a St George's boy in the face at the school gate, causing serious swellings to his face.
On Wednesday, a group of KC students allegedly attacked a St George's student, chopping him in the head, which required five stitches. In retaliation, a group of St George's boys allegedly ganged up on a KC boy, beating him mercilessly.
A schoolmate who took the injured St George's student to the Kingston Public Hospital still had his hands covered in blood when the Observer spoke with him late yesterday afternoon.
He said his St George's colleague was walking with another friend when he was attacked and stabbed twice by a group of KC students when they reached John's Lane.
Visibly shaken, the St George's student said he immediately pulled his handkerchief, which he used to stop the bleeding.
"First time me used to fret about the violence every time it flares up in the schools, but once I was at a sporting event and violence broke out and I got stabbed in my legs, so now I don't worry about it anymore," he said.
Principal of St George's, Margaret Campbell, who confirmed the incidents, said she and the police were scheduled to meet today with the KC students to ensure the violence does not escalate any further.
Campbell told the Observer that the KC principal, along with a group of his upper school students, yesterday met with a group of upper school St George's students to try and resolve the issue.
Despite this, she said teachers had to escort St George's students to downtown Kingston yesterday to ensure that they got safely to their bus stops.
In the meantime, the St George's principal said the school would continue to take all the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of students. "The teachers will continue to walk the students to the bus stops and the police will continue to maintain a presence in the area," she said.
Meanwhile, a teacher who requested anonymity told the Observer that the violence among the students started after a St George's student boxed an Alpha High School girl, who had allegedly called him names.
The girl allegedly reported the matter to a KC upper school student, before the matter was brought to the attention of the St George's College principal who called in the parents to have the matter resolved.
A confrontation, our source said, developed between both students which eventually caused a series of violent confrontations between members of both schools, as well as the neighbouring Holy Trinity High School. Campbell, however, said she has not had any evidence to suggest that Holy Trinity students had become involved in the conflict.
"Now the students who are being injured are the innocent ones who are caught up in what is happening," the teacher said.
Last night, the Observer was informed that students of Calabar High on Red Hills Road had decided to show solidarity with St George's College and had issued threats that Kingston College students who visit the transport centre in Half-Way-Tree would 'do so at their own risk'.
Police Inspector Carlyle Farquharson told the Observer that officers would be maintaining a presence in the downtown area to help maintain peace between the rival schoolboys.
He said he was informed by a KC student that he had to remove his tie so as not to be identified with the school for fear of reprisals.
One KC student said boys from his school were not afraid as students from St George's were no match for them.
"The boy they beat up from KC is an innocent youth and him come to school today with his face swell up and he couldn't even go to class," said the student.