Witnesses recount shock as violent incident disrupts BCC classes

A student at Barbados Community College (BCC) is fighting for his life after being repeatedly stabbed on campus, prompting a lockdown and sparking concerns over security measures.

The incident, of a kind unprecedented in the campus’ history, has left the college community in shock and raised questions about safety protocols.

According to officials, the seriously injured male student, aged 19, was involved in an altercation with another male around 2:05 p.m.

Students told Barbados TODAY that the traumatising incident left many in shock as ear-piercing screams echoed throughout the main campus when “the motionless body” was seen lying on the ground.

In a press statement, police said the injured student was in a serious condition at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital after being transported by ambulance. He received several stab wounds to his torso.

The incident resulted in the suspension of all daytime classes at the Howells Cross Road, St Michael campus, and the school was on temporary lockdown to allow police to carry out investigations.

In a statement, the BCC said that a college nurse and a doctor from one of the nursing programmes responded to the injured student until the emergency medical technicians arrived at the scene.

One student said: “I was sitting down in class and heard everybody screaming. When I got up I saw a girl pulling away a boy. I saw that he was holding something. I said it was a fight but then I realised that the boy on the ground was not getting up. Someone said that the boy with the knife stabbed him until he dropped down and when he was on the ground he stabbed him some more. We didn’t know if he was still alive because he was on the ground real long.”

Another said: “This is absolute nonsense. With all the checking of bags and scanning they do when you come through the front gate how did they not see him? How did he get through the gate?”

The campus reopened to allow 5 p.m. evening classes to continue as scheduled and classes will resume on Thursday as usual.

The college said that it was in touch with the injured student’s mother and will continue to provide any support that is needed.

The college’s counsellors were also pressed into action, offering counselling services to the students and staff. That service will resume from Thursday.

Chairman of the school’s board, Dr  Allyson Leacock, said the incident was a saddening occasion and every effort was being made to ensure the campus was a safe environment.

“The college is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all students and staff,” she said. “The college is working very closely with the authorities and providing support to all those affected and has given the assurance that all measures are strengthened to address scenarios like this.

“Violence has no place in our community and the college will continue to take all necessary steps to reinforce a culture of respect, provide tools for managing and resolving conflict, and continually enhance our security at the college. On behalf of the board, I extend our thanks to the principal for her leadership in managing this situation and to her team, especially the student health nurse and the lecturing doctor on location for their swift intervention. Our collective support and action will make a positive difference at this time because both families and the entire BCC community will be impacted.”

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb