By Shuntel Glasgow
The families of two children who were recent victims of school violence along with a few others, staged a small peaceful protest in front of the Strathspey Primary School yesterday. The exercise was led by the parents of 11-year-old Mark Harrypaul, who died after he was struck in the head when a teenage boy slammed a gate shut at Strathspey Primary School. They were joined by the family of 16-year-old Jamal Reid who was seriously injured when he was struck in the head with a cricket bat at Golden Grove Secondary School.
Roy Harrypaul and Sushmita Singh had expressed dissatisfaction with the advice of the Director of Public Prose-cutions (DPP) that no charges be brought against the 14-year-old whose action caused their son’s death. As they stood with placards in front of the Strathspey Primary School and demanded justice for their son, Roy Harrypaul told Stabroek News that the Ministry of Education had pledged support for the burial of their son. However, he said, after the funeral, they were neglected.
