Gabrielle Morrison

November 9,2023 

Education Ministry Mourns Victims of Senseless Violence

 

The Ministry of Education and Youth is reeling from the recent loss of three young lives, a parent, and a principal in multiple incidents.

 

In a statement released on Tuesday, the ministry said that on Friday, November 3, a Grade 1 student of the St Jude’s Primary School in St Andrew and the mother of a Grade 4 student were fatally shot in an apparent drive-by incident.

 

On Sunday, November 5, Christopher Sinclair, principal of Duckenfield Primary School in St Thomas, passed away after battling illness for several months.

 

And on Monday, November 6, two nine-year-old boys from Chetwood Primary School in St James were killed when gunmen opened fire on the taxi they were traveling in.

 

The education ministry said that it has dispatched teams of grief counselors to all three schools to offer support to the communities.

 

Minister of Education & Youth, Fayval Williams, expressed condolences on behalf of the ministry to the immediate families and school communities affected.

 

“The continuous assault on families and children is taking a serious toll on the psyche and emotions of Jamaicans on a whole,” Williams said.

 

She also urged students, their families, and staff to take advantage of the grief counseling and support services available.

 

In reflecting on the life and contribution made by principal Sinclair, the minister shared that he “dedicated his life to education and to his community. He was a passionate leader and a caring mentor to students, parents, and staff.”

 

The ministry’s statement concluded by saying that it “stands united with the families, schools, and communities affected by these tragedies. We pray for comfort and strength during this difficult time.”