Parents provide evidence of gangs at Pleasantville Sec

Senior Multimedia Reporter

radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt

Despite Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly’s denial of gangs at Pleasantville Secondary School, several parents have presented evidence that gangs are active within the school, showing social media posts from students themselves as well as reports from an official school chat which has discussed the problem.

The parents claim school officials are covering up the gang reports to avoid negative publicity and maintain sponsorships for the sports teams.

Guardian Media yesterday obtained a WhatsApp message from an official school chat confirming the existence of two groups identified as the Guava Gang and the Camo Gang. According to the message, the groups consist of Form 2 students. Six students were named as members of the Camo Gang, while one student was identified as part of the Guava Gang.

The message further stated that Camo Gang members gather above the Form 1 block, while the Guava Gang congregates near “2T.”

“Clashes between the groups occur above the Form 1 block and on the stairwell leading to 2T,” the message said.

The Guava Gang is reportedly identified by the gorilla sounds they make, and they also create “diss tracks” aimed at each other, sharing them on Instagram.

Posts provided to Guardian Media from students’ accounts included statements like “Fully Guava,” “We doh wah no Camo,” and “Nock it on Camo” with fire emojis. Other messages, filled with profanity, referenced the two groups.

Guardian Media yesterday forwarded the messages to the Education Minister, who had earlier said the principal, a dean of discipline and a T&T Unified Teachers’ Association representative had all denied the presence of gangs in the school.

After an exclusive report on the issue earlier this week, a parent shared a voice note from another parent claiming her son was being targeted for supposedly tarnishing the school’s image. In the voice note, the distraught mother said her son was suspended for a week from football because an official blamed him for causing sponsors to pull out.

“My son was bullied in his classroom by a Form 2 student. He was sent home even though he did nothing wrong. The bully put him against the wall, and I am going to the ministry about this. I never contacted CNC3 News but they are saying my son is giving the school a bad name,” the parent said in the voice note shared with other parents.

The school official denied the allegation, however, saying the child was suspended for playing on the field.

Several parents who spoke with Guardian Media said that covering up the gang issue would only lead to greater problems in the future.

Guardian Media was also provided with an email sent to the Permanent Secretary in the Education Ministry, the Victoria Education District and the Education Minister on October 8, a day before Guardian Media exclusively broke the story. In the email, a parent detailed growing violence at the school, claiming Form One pupils were being extorted and bullied. The parent noted a reluctance by staff and parents to report bullying and called for an investigation into threats from these groups, as well as racial tensions within the school.

The acting principal has announced a PTA meeting for Wednesday (October 16) to discuss the parents/guardians’ concerns.

Minister Gadsby-Dolly did not respond to questions sent to her yesterday. However, speaking in Parliament during the Budget debate, she said more guidance counsellors and social workers have been hired to deal with school issues.

ACP: Bullies can face criminal charges

Meanwhile, the Assistant Commissioner of Police for South and Central ACP Wayne Mystar urged parents to report cases of bullying to both the police and the school administration.

“The act of bullying can result in several criminal offences including assault and battery, larceny, extortion, robbery with violence, and robbery with aggravation. It can lead to laying of charges so I advise parents that if your child is being bullied come to the police and report these acts and we will be investigating those matters in a meaningful manner,” ACP Mystar said.

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