PTA says
Police are investigating reports that nine gangs are operating within the Pleasantville Secondary School, with two newly formed gangs, the Camo and Guava, causing increased concern at the institution.
A parent who requested anonymity said her son and his friend, who are in Form One, were attacked in their classroom last Wednesday when they refused to join the Camo gang.
“The Camo students have threatened to beat them up after school. I am very frightened for my son because we live close by and every day he walks home after school,” she said.
She noted that last week Friday, a fight broke out between the gangs and students started pelting stones at each other, damaging a passing car.
On Thursday, two parents whose children were threatened met with the school principal but there was no mention of what would be done about the gang rivalry.
“We want the police to get more involved. My son is already talking about bullying and how nothing happens until someone ends up dead,” the worried parent added.
Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of South and Central Divisions, Wayne Mystar, said he will be meeting with concerned parents on Saturday via a Zoom meeting, following which he will visit the school on Monday to address students on gangs.
Speaking to Guardian Media yesterday, treasurer of the school’s Parent Teachers Association, Clarence Mendoza, confirmed the gangs’ existence in the school, saying students in Form One are being pressured, taxed, and beaten if they refuse to join the gangs. He said the students face regular threats, leading some parents to take their children out of the school for fear of their safety.
“Parents whose children are in gangs need to be aware of what’s happening. The critical issue is that these gangs are carrying weapons—guns, knives, and spanners—inside the school. This is happening after school hours, particularly around Pleasantville Plaza and outside St Madeleine Secondary School. We need the police to step up patrols and do their best,” Mendoza said.
He noted that students who were not attending classes had also been seen loitering around the school after hours.
“Truancy is worsening. We are not saying all students are bad but around 60 students are affiliated with these gangs. They are robbing other students of money and forcing them to pay for protection,” Mendoza added.
He said while efforts to address the issue have been ongoing, with the Ministry of Education implementing policies to combat bullying, the gangs have developed new methods of signalling affiliation.
“We’ve advised principals and teachers on what to look for. The Ministry of Education has policies on bullying, but the gangs are using hair clips and other items to mark who belongs to them. They are using hairstyles and specific items such as hair clips. Weapons are being brought into the school,” he claimed.
Videos of students being jacked up against the wall and relieved of money were also brought to the attention of school officials.
Mendoza said the issue has become so severe that some families are resorting to leaving Trinidad and Tobago as a last resort.
In an interview on Tuesday, Minister of Education Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly said bullying is included in the National Discipline Matrix, a tool that guides schools, students, and parents on handling infractions through progressive discipline, counselling and restorative practices.
“In cases of serious misconduct, immediate suspension or expulsion may be necessary,” she added.
She said students must understand that actions have consequences.
Efforts to contact T&T Unified Teachers’ Association president Martin Lum Kin for a comment were unsuccessful.