WESTMORELAND, Jamaica— What was supposed to be a celebratory day at the Grange Hill High School in Westmoreland has turned into grief and turmoil after one of the institution’s male students was brutally murdered by gunmen.
Classes have since been suspended.
Carson Barrett, 16, and a 15-year-old student, were both shot during the incident. Barrett succumbed to his injuries. The other student is still hospitalised.
Principal of the institution, Trevine Donaldson-Lawrence, told Observer Online that Friday was slated to be prize giving day following sport’s day activities on Thursday.
Donaldson-Lawrence says the incident has left the institution in grave mourning.
“[It was] traumatic. AFter the events that took place at about 5:00 pm, but leading up to that point it was a good day. It was an excellent day to be exact,” a distraught Donaldson-Lawrence told Observer Online, on Friday morning.
The headmaster said while they are grieving they are coping amidst the tragedy.
She said come next Monday, grief-counselling will be held at the institution for students and staff.
The mood at the school was a somber one. When Observer Online visited the institution on Friday, the police were seen walking the school along with representatives from the Child Protection Family Services Agency (CPFSA).
Also present was Member of Parliament aspirant for Westmoreland Western Ian Hayles and councillor for the area Warren Lyttleton.
Councillor for the Grange Hill Division Warren Lyttleton (left) and Member of Parliament aspirant for Westmoreland Western Ian Hayles provides suppot to principal of the Grange Hill High School Trevine Donaldson-Lawrence on Friday morning following the closure of the school amid the murder of a student and the injuring of another. (Photo: Kimberly Peddie)
Donaldson-Lawrence said the Ministry of Education (MOE), Restorative Justice and the church community have been in dialogue with the school.
Hayles said he was at a meeting discussing the implementation of a big-brother/little-brother programme at the school when he heard the shots.
“This big brother-little brother programme that we will be doing in Grange Hill is to ensure that we can save some of the youths. It’s important to save some of the young people and give them better exposure. Grange Hill is a part of the world,” Hayles said.
-Kimberley Peddie