Residents, PTA condemn brazen attack near children, urge crackdown

A man fled gunfire metres from a nursery school in Eden Lodge at the start of the school day on Tuesday, triggering panic among parents and outrage in the community already on edge over rising violence.

Police at District ‘A’ Station have launched an investigation into a brazen morning shooting that occurred at approximately 8:25 a.m., outside the Eden Lodge Nursery School on Sorrel Lane.

District A officers lock down area where shooting occurred at Eden Lodge. (Photo Credit: Ricardo Roberts/Barbados TODAY)

According to initial police reports, a lone assailant approached a man and fired several gunshots. The target of the attack managed to escape the scene. While there were no deaths or injuries, the proximity of the violence to a school has ignited outrage among area residents and parents.

A vehicle at Eden Lodge is seen here damaged following the shooting at Eden Lodge. (Photo Credit: Ricardo Roberts/Barbados TODAY)

The timing of the attack — coinciding with the start of the school day and on the day primary school children sat the common entrance examinations — has left the neighbourhood reeling. One distraught resident, whose grandson attends the school, expressed disbelief at the lack of regard for innocent lives.

“The shooter, whoever they are, they don’t care about man, woman, or child,” the resident said. “I loss for words because these children were in the nursery. To know I have my grandson in Year Two there, this is nonsense. It is unacceptable. Words cannot say how I feel about these people.”

The resident made a direct appeal to the government for more stringent intervention: “I plead for the Madam Prime Minister to do something about this crime. Something has to be done when you see them do something this drastic.”

For many long-time inhabitants of Eden Lodge, the surge in violence marks a painful departure from the area’s historically quiet reputation. Another resident, who was resting at home when the gunfire began, described the terrifying moment the peace was shattered.

“I hear shots while resting on my bed, and I just tell the madam: ‘Get down.’ That was about it,” he recalled. “This area was quiet for years, and all of a sudden this new generation is bringing different things. The fact that it happened in front of a school is so painful. To know little innocent children would be at high risk while parents are at work… it is sad.”

The witness emphasised the need for a total sweep of the community to restore safety. “This area needs a cleaning—a healthy cleaning. I pray to God and hope that the culprits are found.”

The Barbados National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (BNCPTA), led by Nicole Brathwaite, has also condemned the shooting.

Brathwaite did not mince words as she described the violent attack as a fundamental breach of the safety schools are supposed to provide.

“The BNCPTA condemned this shooting in the strongest terms,” she said in a statement. “This is not just unfortunate; this is unacceptable.”

As news of the incident spread, anxious parents rushed towards the scene. The BNCPTA issued an urgent plea for composure to ensure that emergency responders and law enforcement could secure the area and account for all students. It stressed that following established safety procedures is the fastest way to ensure families are reunited.

“We urge parents to stay as calm as possible and follow The Barbados Police Service’s protocols as they reunite with their children,” the head of the BNCPTA said. “Your cooperation helps keep everyone safe.”

Parents seen picking up their children following shooting near a nursery at Eden Lodge, St. Michael. (Photo Credit: Ricardo Roberts/Barbados TODAY)

Beyond the immediate response to the shooting, the BNCPTA pivoted towards a broader demand for societal vigilance. It called on the public to transition from shock to action, advocating for a national effort to purge violence from the spaces where children live and learn.

“We call on all parents and citizens to stay vigilant and join us in demanding safer communities,” the statement concluded. “Our children deserve nothing less.”

Up to late Tuesday as detectives’ inquiries continued, no arrests had been made, and police have not yet confirmed the motive behind the attack. They are urging anyone with information regarding the incident to contact District ‘A’ Station or the nearest police station.

(RR)