Garcia: Santa Rita schoolboy has ODD

Garcia made this disclosure in the House of Representatives as he dismissed a claim from Princes Town MP Barry Padarath that bullying at the school was being done by several students.

The symptoms of ODD include throwing repeated temper tantrums; excessively arguing with adults; actively refusing to comply with requests and rules; deliberately trying to annoy or upset others, or being easily annoyed by others; blaming others for your mistakes and having frequent outbursts of anger and resentment “Only one student has been identified at the school, who has exhibited this type of behaviour.

It is not widespread. It is not associated with more than one student,” Garcia said. As Opposition MPs grumbled after Garcia said the reports indicate the student has ODD, the the minister said the student is “crying out for help.” Government MPs thumped their desks as Garcia said the ministry will ensure the student, “receives the requisite assistance.” Thanking Mayaro MP Rushton Paray for his assistance in this matter, Garcia said, “We have assigned officers from our student support services to the school who are at present having discussions with the school authorities and also the parents.” On another issue, Garcia said the Waterloo High School has a school based management plan. He added, “the safety of students is the paramount responsibility of the principal.” Asked by Chaguanas East MP Fazal Karim to comment on a fence at the school which had a hole in it for the past year, Garcia said he could not comment until ongoing investigations at the school are completed.

The body of missing 16-yearold Waterloo Secondary School pupil Jesse Beephan was discovered behind the school on Wednesday.