Port-of-Spain – Prime Minister Stuart Young yesterday sought to put the issue of his alleged bullying of another schoolboy at St Mary’s College 33 years ago to rest by issuing a statement on bullying, saying it was being politicised.
In the statement he released on Facebook and not through the Office of the Prime Minister, Young opted not to give a precise response- he never referred to Imran Khan, the alleged victim of his reported bullying; he never denied or confirmed the allegation that he had bullied Khan; and he never referred to the baton attack on himself, except to say that an ‘unfortunate incident occurred’ which was ‘traumatic for everyone involved’.
Instead, he sought to address the issue of bullying in general terms.
Young’s statement on bullying on his Facebook page was posted shortly before the Office of the Prime Minister released a statement that he met yesterday with religious leaders on the matter of reform of the education system.
In his Facebook post, Young pointed out that the incident took place when he was a ‘teenaged school boy’ and urged people to focus on the next chapter.
‘The issue of bullying in this country is unfortunately real and one that I take very seriously as a father and now as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.
‘It is deeply unfortunate that an incident which occurred when I was a teenaged school boy has resurfaced in a way that does not allow for a full and fair discussion,’ he said.
Without naming anyone, he said, ‘This incident was traumatic for everyone involved.’
Young added: ‘People are shaped by their experiences and I have no intention of minimising anyone’s feelings, even my own, on this matter, some 33 years later.’
He went on to say that the public’s interest is not served by politicising an issue as sensitive as bullying, which deserves thoughtful discussion and meaningful solutions.
‘Let’s focus on writing the next chapter in which we work to ensure that our schools are safe spaces where all children can feel protected and get the support that is needed. That is my commitment to Trinidad and Tobago,’ he added.
Plenty witnesses
Young’s statement on bullying came in response to an allegation which was made on Facebook on Monday, following his appointment as Prime Minister, and which was corroborated by a column written yesterday by journalist Lasana Liburd on Wired 868.
Liburd detailed a culture of bullying at CIC and alleged that Young was a perpetrator.
‘Imran’s complaints about being bullied by Stuart failed to prompt any meaningful corrective action over the years-even though he was not short of witnesses.
‘I am one such witness. Then in his fifth year at CIC, to quote Imran: ‘I just couldn’t take any more’.’
Liburd stated that ‘Young appeared to have never let up (on the bullying of Khan) from form one straight to (form) five’.
‘I never forgot the last time that I saw Imran Khan-my former St Mary’s College classmate, not the cricketer.
‘We were on the second floor of the school one morning and I heard a buzz in the corridor. I looked up to see Imran walking towards me with a blood-stained baton.
”What happened?’ I asked. ”I just couldn’t take any more,’ he (Khan) said…
‘I walked in the direction that Imran came from to find out what happened. Everywhere boys looked stunned.
‘Imran, they said, had just cracked open Stuart Young’s head.’
Following Young’s appointment as Prime Minister on Monday, a Facebook post from Nadia Khan, sister of Imran Khan, stated that her brother ‘was abused and bullied while at St Mary’s College. He was to sit his O-Levels and was expelled as he used force with (a) baton to defend himself from said bully.
‘He never had the opportunity to sit his Exams. The bully/bullies were never penalised for their actions, sat their exams without any remorse…That bully was Stuart Young…Today he gets the opportunity to now bully a nation.’
The story of Khan’s expulsion made the Mirror newspapers 33 years ago.
The former dean of discipline at the school, Llewellyn MacIntosh (Short Pants), whom the Mirror said had defended Khan at the time, however opted not to comment on the matter when contacted by the Express yesterday.
He said it took place 33 years ago and he wasn’t certain that he could be ‘fair and faithful’ to the issue, given the length of time that had passed.
Then-St Mary’s College principal Dr Anthony de Verteuil had said in a Mirror report that the expulsion of the student had nothing to do with racism, as was alleged.
He said, ‘Khan was not expelled. He has been sent home pending a report from a psychologist.’ (Trinidad Express)
The post T&T PM’s response: Politics behind bullying claim appeared first on nationnews.com.