TRAFFIC ALONG THE WEST COAST ground to a halt yesterday morning after the bus ride for students of Daryll Jordan and Frederick Smith secondary schools was interrupted by a stabbing incident.
While most bystanders at the scene outside Tamarind Hotel in Payne’s Bay, St James, remained mum on the issue, one man, who did not give his name, said he saw the bus stop, the children were screaming and the bus driver disembarked.
“I see children fighting on the bus, everybody was scrambling. The bus driver run out, and then I see some fellas in Frederick Smith uniform get off the bus and run too. The people in the hotel had to come out with towels to try to stop [a] girl belly from bleeding,” he added.
Principal of Daryll Jordan, Stephen Jackman, told a NATION team on the scene: “All I know at this time is that some students were involved in an altercation this morning, and the injured were transported to the hospital. Right now I am waiting for something to take them to school.”
Deputy principal of Frederick Smith, Clyde Collymore, said while he did not have details, he was told that two students, a girl from Daryll Jordan and a boy from Frederick Smith, were taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).
A release from the police said four students were injured – a 15-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy were taken to the QEH by ambulance while two boys, 14 and 15, were taken by private vehicle. It added none of the injuries was life-threatening.
The police’s Forensics Unit was seen removing a backpack and a blood-stained knife from the scene.
In a release yesterday evening, the Ministry of Education denounced the violence displayed by students of both schools.
“The ministry . . . frowns on this type of behaviour and urges all students to conduct themselves in a manner which exemplifies the highest decorum and behaviour possible.” (RA)