Bullying ignored for too long, Mickela says

Patriotic Front leader Mickela Panday said bullying and school violence have been largely unaddressed over the years, leading to the magnitude of the problems seen today.

Panday’s comments follow the death of 15-year-old Jayden Lalchan by suicide, after alleged years-long bullying at St Stephen’s College, Princes Town.

Panday wrote in a post to social media: “Like Lazarus, sleeping politicians seem to have finally awakened to the brutal reality of bullying and school violence that plague our children in Trinidad and Tobago, both in classrooms and online.

For years, these issues have been ignored, swept aside as if they were minor inconveniences. But they are not, the rising tide of violence is becoming impossible to overlook.”

The Patriotic Front founder noted that there have been countless reports of students suffering from the long-term effects of bullying, leading to mental health crises, hospitalisations, and even suicidal behaviour, but the names of many of these victims are often kept private to protect the families and their privacy.

She cited an anonymous case of a 16-year-old girl in Arima who suffered a mental breakdown after being attacked at school, resulting in years of psychiatric treatment.

Panday said visits to schools and conversations with youth revealed an alarmingly high number of students affected.

She questioned when authorities will effectively address the long-standing issues.

“Do we wait for another loss of life before meaningful action is taken? How many more students must suffer before the system intervenes?”

Panday said the time for complacency has long passed and what’s now required is decisive action to protect the youth. She warned that to do otherwise will result in all of society bearing the responsibility for the consequences.