OBA’s Ben Smith On Youth Violence
Shadow Minister of Education Ben Smith has responded to videos circulating online, saying “I am deeply concerned by the recent violent incidents involving our young people.”
Shadow Minister of Education Smith said, “I am deeply concerned by the recent violent incidents involving our young people, particularly those attending our public schools. The videos circulating are not only disturbing—they are heartbreaking. They show a breakdown in the environment we should be building for our youth: one of safety, support, and positive opportunity.
“First, I want to acknowledge the courage of CedarBridge Academy Deputy Principal Christopher Swan, whose selfless actions likely prevented an unfortunate outcome. His bravery highlights the commitment of our educators—but it also underscores the unacceptable risks they now face both on and off school grounds.
“Our schools must be safe spaces for learning and growth, not places where violence is becoming normalized.
“The Minister of National Security has laid out a comprehensive strategy with programmes and interventions that sound promising. However, the public deserves to know what has been implemented to date, what results we are seeing, and how the Ministries of Education, National Security, and Social Development are working together. This cannot be just another plan on paper.
“What we are seeing is not just a school issue. It’s a societal one. But we cannot allow that fact to blur accountability. We need targeted action. We need transparency on outcomes. And most importantly, we need urgency.
“Our teachers, principals, and school staff are doing their best under increasingly difficult conditions. But they need resources, training, and real-time support. Our students need access to mentorship, mental health services, and structured opportunities to thrive. And yes, parents must be held accountable—but they also need guidance and support in an island that has increased financial pressures and a more complications in parenting caused by technology.
“This is not a time for blame. But it is a time for leadership—bold, coordinated, and compassionate. I stand ready to work with anyone committed to real solutions. Because our children cannot afford any more wasted time.”
Send them all to El Salvador please!!
You can give these types of students the moon and the stars. If they desire to fight they will fight. Stop being another BS political fool with more political speeches that will solve nothing.
A couple of flights a year on Con Air should do it.
Get a 5 year plus sentence? Off you go to someplace like El Salvador. I’m sure that they will take care of you for less than $20,000 a year instead of the $100,000 plus that you cost us here.
Come back to spend your last few months at WestGate so that you can advise the locals on the wonderful time you had somewhere down south.
Excellent point on the cost! My estimate a while ago was $152,620 per inmate per year.
APPROVED ESTIMATES OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR 2022/23 P B-280 2022/23 Estimate Department of Corrections $22,893,000.
P B-282 The capacity of Westgate is 372 inmates.
The average daily number of inmates forecast:
2020/2021 average daily number actual – 150 or 40.32% of capacity
$22,893,000 / 150 = $152,620 (not using the Average total cost of incarceration per inmate per annum based on a maximum capacity of $74,004)