By the busy Stabroek Market area where buses wait for passengers and a police outpost stands, last week Friday a gang attacked nineteen-year-old Samuel Grannum who was a student at the Government Technical Institute (GTI). Three days later he died. When we talk about the depravity that plagues this country, all the ‘stink and dutty’ distractions, the carnivals of illusions and friendly politicians cannot mask the fact that we are a troubled people. And some might even conclude that we are a lost people with no sign of redemption.
The compassion and mercy that does exist sometimes seems insufficient to end the barbarity.
By the Stabroek Market area, where the voices of vendors are loud and everyone knows that nefarious activities occur under the clock, where thousands traverse every day, a gang was able to shorten the life of a young man, injure his friend and the police and multitude did not intervene in time to save his life.
It is no secret that among the nefarious activities that occur in the Stabroek Market area, that especially at nights, there would be robberies under the light of the moon, the lights of the buildings, vehicles and streetlights and onlookers would not intervene. But a gang I would imagine in daylight would be no match for the hundreds that are at any moment present by the Stabroek Market area. However, we continue to degenerate into a society where it seems it is every man for himself and no certainty of a brother or sister’s keeper. Perhaps the quickness of the killers of the young man surprised the onlookers and they had not enough time to act.
It was reported that the young man was beaten with wood, bottles, a hockey stick, and baseball bat. Grannum was accused of beating someone at GTI, and the vicious gang was seeking revenge. They showed no mercy, and it has since been revealed that it was a case of mistaken identity. Innocent or guilty one can be in danger when the thugs on the streets of this nation strike while the white-collar thugs do little to bring about effective change.
I ask, where were the police when this beating was occurring? At what point did they intervene? What is the point of having a police outpost at the Stabroek Market area if people are still not protected or safe from the nefarious activities that are prevalent there? Are we to assume that the police are afraid of the gangs?
What is also unfortunate is that according to the young man’s relatives, he was not immediately given medical attention when he was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Some of the people who have taken oaths to help the sick and show compassion are often exposed for being everything but that. A nurse allegedly told the family that they had to wait their turn as the young man was number eight. Is a person bleeding from the head and complaining about the pain not an emergency that needs immediate attention? If that was not an emergency, what is?
Eventually the young man was taken to a private hospital and through a CT scan it was revealed that there was bleeding on his brain. Had he been treated immediately at the Georgetown Public Hospital, instead of hours later after he lost consciousness, perhaps he would not be where the souls of the departed linger.
But this young man was not the only victim within the last week of a wayward society where it is evident that many young people have not been raised to be decent citizens and it is often because their role models are not decent citizens. Whether it is failed parenting or the influences of society, the actions of some of the youth paint a dismal picture for the future of this already fractured society.
In this society where all animals are not equal, where we have “top schools” and then the others; where the assumed brightest are supposed to attend these “top schools” and it is expected that they should be upstanding, outstanding, role models for other young people, we should not expect that the mindset of the thugs who are responsible for the death of the GTI student would be also seen in our top school students and that there would be teachers who allow it. Yet, it was reported that a student who attended the St. Joseph High School completed suicide by hanging after he was beaten by other students in the school. According to some reports on social media there are students who were not involved, but who witnessed the beatings and are traumatized. One such report said there was blood everywhere.
He was accused of stealing a mobile phone. One account said it was a teacher who accused him. The fourteen-year-old boy denied stealing the phone. He was allegedly suspended from some activities while those who beat him faced no consequences. Hurt, overwhelmed, humiliated, and wanting to escape the pain, he resorted to taking his life. The Ministry of Education has since launched an investigation, but if this story is soon forgotten and the perpetrators face no consequences, I will not be surprised.
The time for intervention to curb the acts of violence among our youth, has long passed. This nation has failed our youth. From neglectful and irresponsible parents to poor leadership, influences in music, social media and others, many young people believe that violence and other forms of depravity are the acceptable way of life.
How are we preparing our young people for the future? How will they lead the way when there are so many destructive elements in our society? While we see the ones who are gifted and on paths that may save this country, who is trying to reach the ones we only see or hear about for being involved in acts of depravity?
This society does not need violent gangs. This society needs the village to step up and for the noise of the negative influences to be quieted. Villages that will instill discipline with love, where role models will show up and help to elevate our young people mentally and spiritually. This society needs the collective realization that our reliance on violence to solve our problems since the days of the plantations has done more harm than good. Two of the recent victims of this sordid reality are young men who could have been voices of change. And for the youth who are, maybe their illumination can brighten the path for others. And perhaps eventually, an enlightened gentler, caring society would emerge.
