Jayden's cousin tells students: Find help if you're being bullied

Jayden Lalchan's cousin told St Stephen's College students attending his funeral that they were never alone and urged them to find help if they were being bullied.

Lalchan, 15, died by suicide on October 3 after years of alleged bullying. His cousin Shaun Hosein made the plea during the funeral on Tuesday at JR&D Convention Centre, St Croix Road, Princes Town.

"To the students that knew Jayden, the hurt of Jayden, you have a voice. When you can't speak, find someone who can speak for you. Don't sit back and think you're in this alone. You are never alone."

With over 200 people attending, including Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Princes Town MP Barry Padarath, and hundreds more viewing the live stream, Hosein also called for things to be put in place to prevent another family from suffering like his.

"I urge you all in the media, positions of power that are here today to make meaningful changes. No family or community should have to endure the pain that we are feeling. Let Jayden's name resonate beyond this week's headline and let his name remind us that we have to strive to be better."

His message to the students was echoed by pastor Josh Gajramsingh. Calling on the congregation to take action against acts of bullying in his sermon, Gajramsingh pointed to Lalchan's casket saying it was the price of inaction.

"I hope that every student around this nation can hear me when I say this: don't be silent. Speak up. Say something.

"The generation that I grew up in, there was a quote: 'Snitches get stitches.' We don't live in that society any more because this is reality.

"Don't let there be another statistic. Don't let another child take their own life because of some egotistical, self-centred individual who feels and doesn't understand the value of human life.

"Don't worry about who says that you're squealing, that you're a rat. At the end of the day, it's people's lives you are dealing with."

He admitted while he did not wish to face the alleged bully, if he did, he would ask him: "The bullying, was it worth it? Is this what you wanted?"

Following Lalchan's death, outraged members of the public took to social media posting pictures of a boy they alleged to be Jayden's bully and his family. Many also called for people to boycott the family's businesses.

However, in likening Jayden to Jesus Christ because his death called into focus a critical issue with the potential to save others, Father Michael Lawrence issued an apparent appeal against this.

"Let us also not be the persons that are opposite to what Jayden's death is now symbolising. Let his death not be an instrument of hate but an instrument of hope. Not a symbolism of war but a symbolism of peace."

Lalchan's grief-stricken mother, Fareeda, fainted during the service and had to be hoisted by several relatives and put to lie down across several chairs until she regained consciousness. She was visibly weakened from almost a week of grieving. She also fainted during a candlelight vigil through Princes Town the night before which ended at St Stephen's College.

At the vigil, Lalchan's aunt Radica said no one lifted a finger to help her nephew despite numerous reports by his mother. She described an incident from a week before his death where a teacher had to drive alongside him as he walked to his home five minutes away as he was afraid for his life.

She said Lalchan’s mother had gone to the school the next day and been told by an official not to worry, the matter would be dealt with, and her son would be protected.

That did not happen, and no action was taken against the perpetrator, she said.

“This was a vulnerable child, begging for help and nobody reached out to help him. Because of that, he is now in a funeral home.

“There were no repercussions."

According to media reports, Assistant Commissioner of Police Wayne Mystar signalled his intent to relaunch an anti-bullying campaign at schools in the Southern Division, followed by the South Western and then the Central Division. He said the circumstances around Lalchan's death were being investigated and a file would be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Anyone who needs help or thinks about harming themselves can call Lifeline (24-hour hotline) at 800-5588, 866- 5433 or 220-3636.