Mother scared for boy’s life

A MOTHER fears that her son might one day collapse and die at school.

Josiah Smith, 13, was badly beaten in September last year by a group of students at Christ College, Princes Town.

Yesterday, Smith collapsed in class at Tableland High School, to which he had been transferred. He is warded at San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) where doctors, his mother Fay Charles told Newsday, said her son suffered multiple seizures at about 9.45 am.

On September 13 at Christ College, Fairfield, Princes Town, Smith was bullied and badly beaten by schoolmates. Charles said he was playing a game known as “hand strength” when other students started beating him.

“They hit him over and over on his head,” Charles said.

Her son then collapsed in the arms of a teacher. An ambulance took him to the SFGH, where he was warded for three days. Princes Town police investigated but there have been no arrests.

Education Minister Anthony Garcia intervened and Josiah was transferred to Tableland, where he is a form one student.

Charles, of New Grant Village, Princes Town, said, every so often, her son complains of severe headaches and holds his head in pain.

Yesterday Charles said Josiah complained to the teacher about chest pains then fell off his chair during class.

An ambulance took him to the Princes Town District Health Facility, then SFGH.

Charles said, “Doctors said my son suffered several seizures. He had about three attacks. He is now warded at the teaching hospital, still in his uniform.”

To add insult to injury, she said, police have told her because minors were involved, “their hands are tied.”

She said, “Up to now I never even got a receipt from the police of the report I made. Countless times I ask the police who was investigating the matter. Up to now: nothing.

“You know how it hurts to see my child lying down with he eyes closed?”