The following is a statement from Lawyer Mr. Adrian Odle.
It is truly disheartening to see the mentality of some of our nation’s children. We cannot stand by and let our children think that cruelty is acceptable.
When a group of young girls allegedly cornered 16-year-old Ms. Baptiste-Thomas’s daughter at the Stoney Ground bus stop in November 2024 and even allegedly ordered a van driver to reroute so they could “beat her” at Mt. Wynne, they crossed every boundary of decency.
This isn’t “kids being kids” it’s a breakdown of the values of kindness that holds our vincentian society together.We must teach our children that intimidation is not power. Bullying under the guise of “standing up for myself” is nothing more than organized cruelty.
Bullying can leave scars both mentally and physically, and it has no place in our schools, our streets, or our national identity. We encourage the relevant officials to review and strengthen anti-bullying measures so that whenever a child speaks up in distress, their concerns are met with prompt, meaningful support.
And to Mrs. Baptiste-Thomas: your commitment to your daughter and a peaceful resolve is admirable and we should all take a page out of her book. By documenting every incident, engaging teachers, principals, parents and even rerouting your daughter’s journey home models the kind of parental-care and involvement we need more of in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. You remind us that peaceful persistence and accountability are our greatest tools against injustice.
Fellow Vincentians, let this moment be our wake up call. Speak with your children about bullying and its impact, remind them that true strength lies in lifting others up, not tearing them down.
Together, as parents, educators, policymakers, and neighbors, we can build a nation where kindness is taught at every breakfast table, reinforced in every classroom, and celebrated on every street in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
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