Authorities intervene in dispute involving some Corporate Area schools

By Kimone Witter    

 

The Ministry of Education, school administrators and the police have intervened in a dispute involving students from several Corporate Area high schools that is threatening to spiral out of control.

 

The police say physical altercations, which started last week, have escalated with incidents taking place in the Half Way Tree and Spanish Town areas.

 

Viral videos show boys throwing punches at locations, including the Half Way Tree Transport Centre, with one having a wound to the face.

 

The situation has resulted in Mona High School closing for two days, starting today.

 

In a message to parents and guardians, Principal of Mona High School Keven Jones said due to the ongoing violence involving students from several Corporate Area high schools, a decision has been taken to close the school to protect the lives of the students.

 

Speaking with Radio Jamaica News on Thursday morning, Mr. Jones said the dispute is centred around a female student from The Queens School and two boys, one of whom attends Mona High and the other who attends Calabar High. 

 

"Apparently the young lady from Queen's was involved with a young man from Calabar High School but she's now involved with a young man from Mona High and so threats have been sent, you know, that this boy must leave the girl alone etc. So on Friday of last week - I think it's Friday or Monday of this week, I'm not too sure - the boys decided to approach the Mona boys at the Half Way Tree Transport Centre, an argument ensued and of course, you know, it escalated into physical altercations." 

 

Mr. Jones said the videos of the children fighting are disturbing. 

 

"I can't believe that school children would behave like this and now I'm hearing that other schools are sympathetic to Mona High School and I saw another video early this morning [which] was sent to me by the principal of Jamaica College where some Calabar students were attacking boys from St. George's College. So when I saw that early this morning 4:30 a.m., I now said to myself...this thing is getting out of hand...and so out of the abundance of safety and security, I made a decision to suspend classes," he explained. 

 

Mr. Jones said threats of violence have also been made against the male student population. In light of this, he has held discussions with his students involved in the dispute and the general population. 

 

The Mona High principal he is also in contact with the police and will continue to monitor the situation until it is safe for students to return to the school. 

 

Mr. Jones added that administrators of the schools involved are also engaged in developing a coordinated response to the violence. 

 

"We had a meeting yesterday on the phone, a conference call and that was between Calabar High School principal, Jamaica College principal and myself because I understand now that JC is being drawn in it and then Papine [High] wants to get involved as well because a lot of the schools, I was told, are sympathetic to Mona High School because our boys were the victims. So we will have further discussions on the entire thing."

 

In the meantime, Senior Superintendent Marlon Nesbeth, Commanding Officer of the St. Andrew Central Police, said the police will be going to the various schools on Thursday in an attempt to quell the dispute.

 

SSP Nesbeth said the JCF's Community Safety and Security Branch will be leading the teams. 

 

He said a special group of officers will also be monitoring the areas where students usually gather, such as the Half Way Transport Centre, to prevent further violence.