'Gunshots Every Day'

CHILDREN at Effortville Primary School in Clarendon are accustomed to the sound of gunshots. They know when to run and they know where to run to.

In fact, so common is the violence around them that they have had enough.

“A pure violence a gwaan inna di ghetto; a pure gunshot every day,” a student, who appeared to be no more than 10 years old, blurted out in yesterday's morning devotion.

In unison, his schoolmates shouted “Yes!” But more alarming was the confession of the majority that the police could not protect them.

While constables assigned to the Community Safety and Security branch at May Pen Police Station assured them that everything would be okay, an eight-year-old boy wept in a nearby room.

He didn't want to die.

The child's mother, Ruthlyn Brown, told the Jamaica Observer that her son had seen the evening news which reported the murders of six-year-old Timothy Bassaragh and 13-year-old Shaniel Bartley. This was in addition to the numerous reports of murder and shooting incidents in the parish.

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“From we came in this morning he was crying, saying he doesn't want to be here because of the violence; that he didn't want to die. Sometimes we hear the gunshot from here because of the borderline and he listens to the news when they are discussing it,” the woman shared.

She said, however, that moving her child from the school is not an option because of its “excellent” curriculum and teaching style.

“I'll have to have a talk with him because I'm not moving him from here. I'll have to get the guidance counsellor to talk to him because he has a good relationship with her,” she said.

The school's principal Adrian Sinclair, told the Observer that staff had to deal with several parents and students who have been victims of violence in recent times.

“We have one of our grade six students who was shot and injured by gunmen. He was in hospital for an extended time. Before that, he lost his mother, although not to violence. His stepfather was also shot, so for him to undergo so much at one time, it's horrible,” Sinclair said.

He mentioned also that parents have had to move out of the community, causing enrolment at the school to become fickle. It was also dependent, he said, on how alarming the violence gets in the area.

“Just after we closed for holidays we have some of our students whose houses were burnt down. And I know that the parents have moved out of the community and, as such, we have had to be writing transfer letters for students so that these parents can have peace of mind,” the educator noted.

He said several of his students have actually witnessed shooting incidents and stated that this has forced the guidance counselling department to work overtime. He added that sustained gunfire at times has impacted the students mentally and have left several traumatised. The Victim Support Unit, the Child Development Agency and Child Guidance Clinic, he said, have also had to assist in the counselling process.

“They are tired. It has affected schoolwork. …Each time something happens I can tell, because it affects at least one child here. Many of them are related to each other so a lot of them are affected from time to time.

“The fact of the matter is, we are tired of the violence. You're hurting Jamaica; you're hurting the future generation. Put away the guns and let us unite as one people,” Sinclair pleaded.

Closed-circuit cameras have been installed at the school as well as floodlights to monitor compound activities.

A six o'clock curfew has been imposed for children in the community.