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Political war hits schools
By Dwayne Mcleod, Star Writer
Similar to the operations of some volatile communities, students from certain areas have taken upon themselves to emulate their inner-city counterparts in trying to 'run' their schools in the same manner in which their communities are.
Apart from forming crews, students are said to be boasting and even defending their political affiliations. THE STAR learned that in some instances, battle lines have been drawn and the possibility of war erupting is determined by the simplest of intrusions.
"Di crew ting a one ting, but when dem yute ya a go talk 'bout dem a Labourite or dem a PNP an all a war wid each oda, is a totally different ting," an ancillary work at a Kingston high school said.
According to police officers from the related areas, there have not been any major reports recently, but they are very familiar with such reports. "It's been a while since anything major has occurred, but we are indeed aware that students are getting themselves involved in things like this," the officer said.
Interestingly, the principals of these schools had very little to say on the matter, claiming they wish not to get involved in political talk. They, however, were quick to claim that while it can be argued that students were involved in political practices at school, there have not been any recent situations, suggesting that it is a thing of the past
But THE STAR learned otherwise. At one particular high school in eastern Kingston, students have made it clear that they are not afraid to voice or display their political allegiance. It was learned that some students have distanced themselves from other schoolmates and have even created turfs where only affiliated crew members can be seen.
Protect turf
One student, who admits to being part of one of the crews, says any form of intrusion will cause the crews to war. "Dem have fi dem turf an' we have our turf. A jus suh it go, and everybody know seh dem nuf fi stray 'cause tings wi gwaan," the student said.
Students from one traditional high school located in St. Andrew brought their so-called political affiliations from Spanish Town on to their school campus. A security guard, who said he has been employed to the school for the past four years, claims predominantly younger students who resided in the Old Capital once were on a mission to 'run' the institution. "Yu si di likkle yute dem from 'Spain' weh inna third and fourth form, a dem did a go hard. Believe it or not, a dem did a run di school one time, eno," the guard, who asked to remain anonymous, told THE STAR.
He claimed the reign of the students at the school was quite evident as they graffitied walls symbolising their turf and affiliations. "Anybody who come a di school and tek a walk 'roun di place coulda si fi demself. Di yute dem write up all sort a tings pan di wall dem, tings like 'clans fi life, one order run tings, one order ova ya suh, an' clans ova deh so. Tings like dat," he revealed. The graffitis have since been removed.
Students, however, claim that while some of the mini-gang members are still in attendance at the school there has not been any recent encounters between them. "We see them and know them, so we know that they're still here but, there hasn't been any major incident in quite a while." a student council's representative said.
In May 2005, THE STAR broke the story about school gangs and how some students in Spanish Town were brought before the court after an altercation at the Spanish Town High School.
One female student from a high school located in Southern Kingston, expressed deep fear of losing her brother who attends her school. The 15-year-old claims her brother, who is two years her senior, is the leader of a gang of students who claim they are 'bigger heads' at the school. The student further claimed that the gang also boasts and defends their political affiliations from time to time. "Is him run di crew, an dem seh a dem run tings a school an dem always inna some form a war," she revealed, adding that outsiders have visited the school seeking the whereabouts of her brother on a number of occasions. "Man an man all come fi him aready, more dan one time but him jus' always lucky fi nuh deh bout," the teary-eyed teen said.
Students at the school confirmed the girl's claim saying her brother was indeed known to be the mastermind behind the notorious crew at the school. "Da yute deh a real tugz enuh. A him an him fren dem a run di school ya now. More time all man come look fi him." one student said.
By Dwayne Mcleod, Star Writer
Similar to the operations of some volatile communities, students from certain areas have taken upon themselves to emulate their inner-city counterparts in trying to 'run' their schools in the same manner in which their communities are.
Apart from forming crews, students are said to be boasting and even defending their political affiliations. THE STAR learned that in some instances, battle lines have been drawn and the possibility of war erupting is determined by the simplest of intrusions.
"Di crew ting a one ting, but when dem yute ya a go talk 'bout dem a Labourite or dem a PNP an all a war wid each oda, is a totally different ting," an ancillary work at a Kingston high school said.
According to police officers from the related areas, there have not been any major reports recently, but they are very familiar with such reports. "It's been a while since anything major has occurred, but we are indeed aware that students are getting themselves involved in things like this," the officer said.
Interestingly, the principals of these schools had very little to say on the matter, claiming they wish not to get involved in political talk. They, however, were quick to claim that while it can be argued that students were involved in political practices at school, there have not been any recent situations, suggesting that it is a thing of the past
But THE STAR learned otherwise. At one particular high school in eastern Kingston, students have made it clear that they are not afraid to voice or display their political allegiance. It was learned that some students have distanced themselves from other schoolmates and have even created turfs where only affiliated crew members can be seen.
Protect turf
One student, who admits to being part of one of the crews, says any form of intrusion will cause the crews to war. "Dem have fi dem turf an' we have our turf. A jus suh it go, and everybody know seh dem nuf fi stray 'cause tings wi gwaan," the student said.
Students from one traditional high school located in St. Andrew brought their so-called political affiliations from Spanish Town on to their school campus. A security guard, who said he has been employed to the school for the past four years, claims predominantly younger students who resided in the Old Capital once were on a mission to 'run' the institution. "Yu si di likkle yute dem from 'Spain' weh inna third and fourth form, a dem did a go hard. Believe it or not, a dem did a run di school one time, eno," the guard, who asked to remain anonymous, told THE STAR.
He claimed the reign of the students at the school was quite evident as they graffitied walls symbolising their turf and affiliations. "Anybody who come a di school and tek a walk 'roun di place coulda si fi demself. Di yute dem write up all sort a tings pan di wall dem, tings like 'clans fi life, one order run tings, one order ova ya suh, an' clans ova deh so. Tings like dat," he revealed. The graffitis have since been removed.
Students, however, claim that while some of the mini-gang members are still in attendance at the school there has not been any recent encounters between them. "We see them and know them, so we know that they're still here but, there hasn't been any major incident in quite a while." a student council's representative said.
In May 2005, THE STAR broke the story about school gangs and how some students in Spanish Town were brought before the court after an altercation at the Spanish Town High School.
One female student from a high school located in Southern Kingston, expressed deep fear of losing her brother who attends her school. The 15-year-old claims her brother, who is two years her senior, is the leader of a gang of students who claim they are 'bigger heads' at the school. The student further claimed that the gang also boasts and defends their political affiliations from time to time. "Is him run di crew, an dem seh a dem run tings a school an dem always inna some form a war," she revealed, adding that outsiders have visited the school seeking the whereabouts of her brother on a number of occasions. "Man an man all come fi him aready, more dan one time but him jus' always lucky fi nuh deh bout," the teary-eyed teen said.
Students at the school confirmed the girl's claim saying her brother was indeed known to be the mastermind behind the notorious crew at the school. "Da yute deh a real tugz enuh. A him an him fren dem a run di school ya now. More time all man come look fi him." one student said.
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