Parents claim gang activity at Penal Sec has students fearful

Senior Multimedia Reporter

radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt

Yet another report of gang activity in schools has surfaced, this time at the Penal Secondary School, where at least two children have stopped attending classes due to threats and attacks.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Wayne Mystar has been informed of the alleged presence of the Rankers gang at the school and has mandated a team to investigate.

Parents claimed that students who exposed the gang, which identifies itself with tattoos, are now receiving threats.

Two parents spoke out about the gang activity, while a third came forward late yesterday. All of them requested anonymity, though they agreed to make official reports to the police.

Aside from the students who have stopped attending school, parents said others are seeking transfers, and at least one child is set to migrate. They claimed the gang is led by a Form Five student who has allegedly been terrorizing fellow students and teachers.

The parent of a Form Five student said she has no choice but to make arrangements to send her child abroad out of fear.

“My daughter is not safe, and we are very concerned. The teachers told me it’s at my own risk if I send her to school. They said I could request an MTS guard to walk her through the compound, but even when she comes to school for SBA work, she has to do it and leave immediately. The principal admitted the gang is holding the school hostage,” the parent claimed.

She said weapons, drugs, and pills are reportedly being passed to lower-form students within the school, adding to the illegal activities on the compound.

Her daughter, speaking under the condition of anonymity with permission from her mother, said she was terrified of returning to school.

“I am really scared and it’s unfair. (Name called) tells me to sit in her office, but the others can walk around freely. There are more than six gangs here, and it’s unsafe. These gangs, especially the Rankers, are in control of the school. Even the security guards can’t tell them anything,” the student alleged.

She added that she didn’t understand why the school hasn’t banned tattoos, as this is what identifies the gang.

“All of them are under this one gang leader. A lot of children follow him. About 25 students have been recruited under the Rankers,” she claimed.

The student added that some gang members had already been suspended, but this made no sense.

“Even if they are suspended, they still come to school and hide in the classrooms. Others wait outside the school gate. I am afraid to walk to meet my mother. I could get stabbed outside the school,” the child said looking despondent. She said drugs and knives are brought into the compound, and there are no proper checks.

Meanwhile, the parent of a Form One pupil also claimed that drugs were being brought into the school. The parent said in the third week of school, her 12-year-old son was pushed down, spraining his hand.

She claimed that last Thursday, a group of students held down her son and tried to force him to drink a bottle of juice with 20 Lomotil tablets. Lomotil is used to treat diarrhoea.

“We all know what would have happened if he drank that,” she said. Since that incident, her son has not returned to school. The worried mother added: “This is only five weeks into the school term, and I do not want my child to go back. He is scared for his life. He keeps asking, ‘Mommy, if I go to school on Monday, what will they do next?’ I am scared for him, and he is scared for himself.”

‘Appeal to students who harass students to desist’

Guardian Media reached out to Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly and provided a detailed report of the parents’ claims.

She said: “Once again, there has been a denial by the principal of gangs operating at Penal Secondary. The student whose name was mentioned does have a disciplinary history, but the allegation of gangs operating in the school has been denied.

“There was an incident outside of the school with a student, which was reported to the police, and that is being investigated.”

President of the T&T Unified Teachers Association, Martin Lum Kin, said he has also initiated an investigation and will request a report.

When contacted, the president of the National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations, Walter Stewart called on the police to conduct a thorough investigation.

“If there is any truth to the reports, let the chips fall where they may. We consider schools to be sacred places, safe havens, and we want our children to attend school and learn well. No parent wants their child to be abused, injured or berated. We appeal to students who continually harass and torment law-abiding students to desist from these acts, which are causing trauma and disaster,” Stewart said.

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