Tweet
Gareth Davis Sr., Sunday Gleaner Writer
Steve and Karen Bacchus are struggling to find out what could have pushed their son, Romario, to set fire to two rooms at the College of Agriculture Science and Education (CASE) in Portland where he is a student.
Romario's parents spoke to The Sunday Gleaner last Friday, shortly after he was remanded.
They expressed shock and disappointment at the violent act committed by their child, whom they described as well disciplined.
"I have to apologise to all those who were harmed by my son's irresponsible act," said Mrs Bacchus tearfully.
"I am sorry for the pain caused, and I also want to extend the same to the students and staff at CASE. This is not him. I was shocked when I found out about the fire and that he had done it. I said to myself, is this the son that I have raised to be good, courteous, and helpful?
"He is a quiet boy and is well mannered, and for him to have committed such act, it is hard to come to grips with."
The worried mother described her son as one who hardly complains and added that they had their suspicions that all was not well with him at CASE.
Steve Bacchus claims Romario was injured in an ugly incident at CASE during his first semester and had to seek medical attention while staying at home for a period to recover.
"That matter was never reported to the administrators," commented the father.
"He was constantly provoked by students and other family members, but I'm still trying to come to grips with what may have triggered him to commit this act.
"The student, who is at hospital is a family member (cousin) to him (Romario), and it is a rather unfortunate incident, which shouldn't have gotten this far. And I am in sympathy with those who were injured, and I beg their forgiveness."
First-semester injury
Before enrolling at CASE, Romario attended Mannings School, where he did well with passes in seven Caribbean Examination Council subjects.
Romario hails from Grange Hill in Westmoreland, and is in his second semester at the Portland college.
According to his father, when Romario was injured during his first semester at the school he had hoped that the ragging and harassing would have ended but instead it got worse.
"I was under the impression that there were times he was hiding stuff from us, and that he simply did not want to complain to us too much. I have not had the opportunity of speaking to him since the incident; however, knowing him, he has had time to look into himself and would realise that what he did was wrong."
Romario was arrested late last week after he confessed to setting ablaze two rooms on a male dormitory at CASE.
When he appeared in court last Friday, his lawyer argued that he did not mean to harm anyone but started the fire because he was constantly harassed by other students.
Steve and Karen Bacchus are struggling to find out what could have pushed their son, Romario, to set fire to two rooms at the College of Agriculture Science and Education (CASE) in Portland where he is a student.
Romario's parents spoke to The Sunday Gleaner last Friday, shortly after he was remanded.
They expressed shock and disappointment at the violent act committed by their child, whom they described as well disciplined.
"I have to apologise to all those who were harmed by my son's irresponsible act," said Mrs Bacchus tearfully.
"I am sorry for the pain caused, and I also want to extend the same to the students and staff at CASE. This is not him. I was shocked when I found out about the fire and that he had done it. I said to myself, is this the son that I have raised to be good, courteous, and helpful?
"He is a quiet boy and is well mannered, and for him to have committed such act, it is hard to come to grips with."
The worried mother described her son as one who hardly complains and added that they had their suspicions that all was not well with him at CASE.
Steve Bacchus claims Romario was injured in an ugly incident at CASE during his first semester and had to seek medical attention while staying at home for a period to recover.
"That matter was never reported to the administrators," commented the father.
"He was constantly provoked by students and other family members, but I'm still trying to come to grips with what may have triggered him to commit this act.
"The student, who is at hospital is a family member (cousin) to him (Romario), and it is a rather unfortunate incident, which shouldn't have gotten this far. And I am in sympathy with those who were injured, and I beg their forgiveness."
First-semester injury
Before enrolling at CASE, Romario attended Mannings School, where he did well with passes in seven Caribbean Examination Council subjects.
Romario hails from Grange Hill in Westmoreland, and is in his second semester at the Portland college.
According to his father, when Romario was injured during his first semester at the school he had hoped that the ragging and harassing would have ended but instead it got worse.
"I was under the impression that there were times he was hiding stuff from us, and that he simply did not want to complain to us too much. I have not had the opportunity of speaking to him since the incident; however, knowing him, he has had time to look into himself and would realise that what he did was wrong."
Romario was arrested late last week after he confessed to setting ablaze two rooms on a male dormitory at CASE.
When he appeared in court last Friday, his lawyer argued that he did not mean to harm anyone but started the fire because he was constantly harassed by other students.