Another case of alleged physical abuse of student athlete

One of Jamaica's top performing schools at the annual Boys’ and Girls’ Championships, is being accused of physical abuse against a group of student athletes. RJR Sports has received a complaint from a St Elizabeth-based parent of Hydel High about a shocking incident which allegedly happened last year.

In the wake of a picture showing wounds on the upper thigh of a student athlete, who has since lost her scholarship, RJR Sports made contact with the mother of the child seen in the pictures. Her daughter alleged that she was beaten with a tennis racket by staff member after an encounter with the dorm mother when she didn't get breakfast after returning from Saturday training at 2:00 pm.

She said another incident occurred when her two brothers who attend an all-boys school, visited her but brought friends with them and the matter was reported to the head coach. Her mother Celia Jones claimed the staff member told her he flogged her daughter for arguing with the dorm mother and  when boys from another school visited them.

The mother of seven said she took her younger daughter, who had wounds, to two medical facilities in St Elizabeth, but she was not treated because the doctors told her she should have filed a report with the police.

However, she did not report the matter to the police as her children were still attending the St Catherine-based school and they were afraid. On Friday, January 3 when RJR Sports made contact with principal of the Hydel Group of Schools, Hyacinth Bennett, she hung up during efforts to arrange for an opportunity for the school to give its version of the events. Calls and text messages to Hydel's head coach Corey Bennett, the son of the principal, also went unanswered.

However, RJR Sports received a telephone call from attorney at law Vincent Wellesley, informing us that he has been retained by Hydel High and that he has advised his clients not to grant any interviews. On Monday we tried to reach Wellesley and he told us on two occasions to call him back. All subsequent efforts to reach him were unsuccessful.