She had a weapon

Garcia made the announcement after he and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley visited the St Barbs Government Primary School at Mentor Alley, Upper Laventille Road, Laventille.

“I was reluctant to say more because it is a child and I did not want to give adverse publicity to the child,” Garcia said.

“But because of the way it was carried in the media, it is important for me to clear the air. The child came to school armed with a weapon.” Garcia said all principals in government schools have a circular to follow on what must be done. He said teachers are advised that once a child comes to school with a weapon, he or she must be suspended.

When asked if the suspended student provoked the fight, Garcia said, “I don’t want to go into that. All I am saying is the child was suspended because she had a fault of the rules of the school by coming to the school armed with a weapon. We had a meeting with the parents, teachers, the community police, and senior officials.

After further discussion of all the issues, that was the course of action that all of us agreed upon.”