FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2026
VOLUME 120, No. 11
Leacock in Taiwan Page 3
www.thevincentian.com
Petitions: No joke Page 7
Garifuna Festival Page 12
Nurses rubbish Camillo Page 18
EC$1.50
Prisoners get training Page 32
SCHOOL VIOLENCE ON THE AGENDA aimed at strengthening safety within schools and communities. “Across many societies today, including our own, we are witnessing troubling patterns within our schools, incidents of violence, gang influence, bullying and other behaviors that threaten not only the safety of our students and teachers, but also the future stability of our community,” Superintendent of Police (SoP) Junior Simmons said as he set the tone for the deliberations.
Frankie Joseph, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DPC), emphasized that prevention still remains the primary tool in addressing the issue of violence among young people. by DAYLE DASILVA ON TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2026, policymakers, educators, police leadership, and community stakeholders gathered at the National Insurance Services (NIS) Conference Room for a national consultation on school violence, held under the theme “Safer Schools, Safer Communities.” The consultation, hosted by the Ministry of National Security, Disaster Management and Immigration in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Innovation, Digital Transformation and Information and the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF), focused on patterns and expression of violence among students, and explored strategies Violence in schools has taken on new expressions and patterns that require innovative remedial and preventative responses.
Trevor Bailey, Assistant Commissioner of Police, highlighted the emerging reality as one characterised by new patters and expressions of acts of misconduct among young people.
behavior that resemble gang culture, group intimidation, pressure to align, retaliation for disrespect the pursuit of Emerging patterns of youth violence status through violence…and the According to Assistant acceptance of fear as a Commissioner of Police, Trevor Bailey, way to control others,” there have been a number of troubling ACP Bailey said. incidents involving students within recent months, underscoring the Collaboration is crucial serious of the issue. In addition he recognized that The reality required certain behaviours and expressions are that responsible emerging in and around schools. institutions do more The situation is one in which “We than react, Bailey are dealing with the developing continued. “We must assess the concern, I am referring to patterns of
pattern, speak honestly about the risk and decide what must change.” He posited, though, that the issue must be approached with discipline and fairness. “We cannot afford to make the mistake of branding every troubled child as a criminal, that will be careless and unjust and harmful,” he cautioned, and he emphasised the importance of balance and fairness when addressing young people involved in miscreant behaviour. That was why consultation, intersectoral collaboration mattered, Bailey said: “Our schools are being asked to carry pressures they did not create on their own.” No school can solve the problem on its own. The police have a role, but policing was not enough to produce the culture the young people needed. “A uniform cannot replace parenting, an arrest cannot substitute for moral guidance,” ACP Bailey said. Continued on Page 3.