Gang-war erupts at South school

NINE pupils from Marabella Junior Secondary School were expected to be charged last night for several counts of assault arising out of a fracas outside the school’s compound yesterday morning. Once charged, the youths will appear at the San Fernando Magistrates Court. Two of the pupils were cut with knives and several others beaten, in what police described as the eruption of a long-standing “gang warfare” between members from rival schools. The fighting occurred outside the school’s compound around 11.30 am and according to reports, police were forced to detain 15 pupils at Marabella Police Station for questioning.

Around 11.30 am, about 15 Form Three pupils, divided into gangs, engaged each other in fist fights. They began using book bags, sticks and stones to strike each “member” of the rival groups. When MTS security guards intervened, the fight spilled onto the road. Sgt Anthony Charles of Marabella Police Station told Newsday preliminary investigations revealed some members of one of the gangs, fled the scene of the fight during which they threatened to return with “weapons.” He said the pupils were from various parts of Harmony Hall, Marabella on the Line and Tarouba villages. The report stated that the fight continued on the road with some pupils in their white and grey pants uniform coming under attack with knives from the “rival gang” that had earlier fled the scene.

At least four pupils received minor cuts and bruises. One student, aged 14, was cut across the forehead. When reports about the incident reached Vice Principal Gay Forbes, she called the police. Policemen in two vehicles responded and according to report, 15 pupils were rounded up and transported to the Marabella Police Station. After being interrogated, police released seven of the pupils. Sgt Charles described the fracas as having stemmed from “the usual school gang warfare which culminates every end of the school term.”