PM in pain over bullied teen’s death, Barrackpore double murder

Senior Reporter

dareece.polo@guardian.co.tt

The tragic suicide of 15-year-old St Stephen’s College student Jayden Lalchan has drawn a heartfelt response from Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.

During his contribution to yesterday’s Budget debate, PM Rowley paused to extend his condolences to Jayden’s grieving family, highlighting the devastating impact of bullying that led to the boy’s untimely death.

As a father himself, Rowley spoke with palpable emotion, stating, “I want to express my sincerest condolences to the family of that young schoolboy, his name is Jayden, who took his own life because of how he was being persecuted in the school. No parent should have to bury a child but to have to bury one under those circumstances is particularly punishing.”

While the Prime Minister refrained from announcing specific anti-bullying legislation yesterday, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar seized the moment at Jayden’s funeral on Tuesday, pledging to introduce a proposed Jayden Bill to combat bullying comprehensively during an interview with the media. She called for justice although she advocated for forgiveness.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister said he had had little time to process the sorrow surrounding Jayden’s death when he was confronted by another horrifying incident: the murder of Tara “Geeta” Ramsaroop and her one-year-old daughter Jada Mootilal.

Relatives claimed Ramsaroop endured nearly seven years of abuse at the hands of her alleged killer.

Describing the crime as “horrendous,” Rowley said he struggled to comprehend reports that the suspect, now in custody, had plans to target another minor.

“For God’s sake, suppose he had got to that school and had killed that second child in and among the other schoolchildren? What is going on in our society? And we have no control over the thought of criminal conduct. We can only respond to them after they’ve done it,” he said.

Despite his outrage, the Prime Minister acknowledged the sentiment expressed by a member of the public who, when asked by a reporter to comment on the Barrackpore double murder, said “Trinidad is a very messed up country” and added that things might improve if Rowley were to resign.

He recognised that many share this perspective but firmly dismissed it.

“What does that horrendous act have to do with the assignment of the prime minister?” he challenged.

Further addressing the public’s concern, he commented on Assistant Commissioner of Police Wayne Mystar’s defence of law enforcement in the wake of the Barrackpore incident. Relatives of the victims alleged that police had ignored multiple reports of abuse. In response, ACP Mystar insisted that proper protocols were followed and advised victims to distance themselves from their abusers if protection orders were in place.

Rowley reflected on the parallels between Mystar’s statements and his own advice in 2017, when he urged women to choose their partners wisely amid a rise in domestic violence.

“Mama yo! They nearly skewer me for giving the advice that I give to my two daughters; be careful with how you go about your life and with whom you associate. Today (yesterday), I see officer Mystar saying the same thing in similar situations.”

Autopsies revealed the infant sustained a chop wound to her neck, while Ramsaroop endured multiple fatal injuries.

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