Schoolgirl, 16, dies after being hit by rock on bus

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

A 16-year-old female Government High School student died after being “caught in the crossfire of young men throwing rocks” while on a bus.

The student was on the bus on Carmichael Road on her way to school around 8am Friday when she was hit.

She was taken to hospital by ambulance where she later died of her injuries.

Police confirmed that several adult males are in custody in connection with the incident.

In a statement, the Ministry of Education said: “The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is sad to learn of the passing of a 10th grade, honour roll, female student of the Government High School.

"Shortly after 8 o’clock this morning, the student was a passenger on a bus on Carmichael Road, en route to school. She was an innocent victim caught in the crossfire of young men throwing rocks and was struck in the head, taken to hospital and succumbed to her injuries this afternoon.

"We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of the victim and our thoughts and prayers are with them and the Government High School family as well. The administrators of the Government High School called an emergency assembly prior to dismissal to inform students of the unfortunate death of their schoolmate. Counsellors from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology have been informed and will report to the Government High School first thing Monday morning to provide the necessary grief counseling for students and staff. We are deeply saddened by this tragic event that occurred today and once again, we call on all citizens to unite to promote a spirit of peace and love in our Bahamaland."

Comments

Publius says...

My God, what a senseless killing of another young, bright Bahamian student.

Posted 11 March 2016, 11:12 p.m. Suggest removal

Voltaire says...

What have we become???

Posted 12 March 2016, 2:08 a.m. Suggest removal

newcitizen says...

Wow, you are such a xenophobic bigot.

Posted 12 March 2016, 10:22 a.m. Suggest removal

Emac says...

You would say that without examining the facts surrounding what I am saying. You people love to use the word "xenophobic" without even knowing the true meaning. I wouldn't even run on with you cause you know nothing about me. Trust me, I am far from xenophobic: I certainly do not hate foreigners. I embrace and celebrate all cultures. However, when a part of a country's culture is centered around violence and that violence spills over into the country that I and my family live in, then I have a problem. But whatever. None of what you are saying will change the fact that Haitians are volatile people. Again, I will say that I have proof and have seen with my own eyes how Haitian descendants destroy the very fabric of our society with their violent ways. I make no apologies for my statement, neither am I trying to be diplomatic about it. I live here, so don't expect for me to sit back and pretend that your people are saints, when they're not! Finally, please follow the report about who the perpetrators are for this crime and then get back to me.

Posted 12 March 2016, 11:01 a.m. Suggest removal

newcitizen says...

I know that you are a xenophobic bigot.

Posted 12 March 2016, 4:56 p.m. Suggest removal

thomas says...

If what he is saying is true, he is first of all knowledgeable and then if you wish a xenophobic bigot

Posted 12 March 2016, 5:45 p.m. Suggest removal

Cainn says...

You are a bigot, the worst kind... categorize a whole nation of people as violent over few kids rock throwing rocks. I feel a deep sorrow for the girl and her family, but for you to use their grief to promote your xenophobic agenda is repulsive and shows you for the degenerate you are.

Posted 13 March 2016, 1:10 a.m. Suggest removal

SP says...

Another Haitian parasite speaks....STFU!

Posted 13 March 2016, 8:37 a.m. Suggest removal

Cainn says...

Another degenerate speaks...real sad that your kind come in combos

Posted 14 March 2016, 3:53 a.m. Suggest removal

Canolies123 says...

yes blame the Haitians - as ever ignorant Bahamian would say...hence the sad state of our Bahamian nation..Forward Upward Onward TOGETHER

Posted 14 March 2016, 6:45 a.m. Suggest removal

EasternGate says...

It is finished (almost)!

Posted 12 March 2016, 9:09 a.m. Suggest removal

Jonahbay says...

Hanging my head in shame at the reality of the problem that we are in. May the beautiful promise of life that was so stupidly snuffed out rest in peace. She is free of the future of suffering that was ahead of her in a land of no promise and opportunity. Can we hang our collective heads any lower? How many more of our sons and daughters have to perish on the way to or from school before we stop pretending that it is still business as usual? When will we try something new? Our broken down palace of a country is more broken down than palace...

Posted 12 March 2016, 9:23 a.m. Suggest removal

Zakary says...

It’s really sad.

Posted 12 March 2016, 6:52 p.m. Suggest removal

gbgal says...

What can I say to the family and friends of this precious child? You are in my thoughts and prayers...I pray also for all of our nation. Dear Lord, help us!

Posted 12 March 2016, 10:54 a.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

Emac's statement isn't pretty but it has truth in it. All over the world disaffected youth are becoming unwitting pawns in someone else's violent agenda. Praying for the family of the young girl, this is the worst thing in the world to lose a child.

Posted 12 March 2016, 1:31 p.m. Suggest removal

TommySotomayor says...

If Emac is the Emac who I think he is then I'll let his comment slide because he live in the back of the bush deep in the heart of hatians who have no legal right to live where they are living. So he's speaking from his personal experience.

But speaking from my personal experience I can't think of a single hatian who has ever done anything to me or my loved ones. Every violent loss I've experienced in my live was done by a Bahamian just as non-hatian as I am or their hatian heritage as as old as my french, jamaican, and american heritage and therefore not connected to anything they are doing today.

Posted 12 March 2016, 2:39 p.m. Suggest removal

TommySotomayor says...

This is why we need PROPER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION at least for the school children!

Let the children that act up get caught on the bus camera and stripped of their school bus pass. The good children would then get to ride both free of charge and free of stupidity and free of danger while the idiots are left to continue riding the expensive, ureliable nightmare that is the jitney system.

Posted 12 March 2016, 2:42 p.m. Suggest removal

Emac says...

@Cainn*-"but for you to use their grief to promote your xenophobic agenda is repulsive and shows you for the degenerate you are"* Get over your emotions. I stand by my comments. People like yourself are living in a bubble. I am not using anything to promote anything. This incident is horrific and should never have occurred. This gives us even more reason to examine the underlying causes that lead to such events. I am simply just looking at reality. Also, I think you missed the part where I said I have firsthand knowledge about what I am saying. The problem with the majority of Bahamians is that we live in denial about everything that goes on around us. But don't worry: Years from now when the situation gets out hand and this thing comes back to bite you on the ass, you will probably be the first person to blame the government, while scratching your head wondering how we got ourselves in this situation.

Posted 14 March 2016, 3:47 a.m. Suggest removal

Emac says...

Regarding my comments, BY NO MEANS AM I SAYING THAT BAHAMIANS ARE SAINTS AND THAT WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SOCIETAL PROBLEMS THAT EXISTS!
I had to put that in bold for those who need to be jolted in order to see a point. However, I have seen teenagers with Haitian parents, throw boulders in the street, broke bottles in the street, destroy public properties etc. This has happened in not just one incident, but we have seen it many, many times. Trust me, if you look in their eyes, you will see their anger and how they are ready to kill someone. Say what you want about generalizing, but THIS IS CONGENITAL. These kids are angry at society for looking down at them and treating them as outcasts. They are looking for attention. So what should we do? Ignore their anger or talk about it and try to offer some solution that can help defuse this anger before it is unleashed on society. There is a time bomb ticking in the Haitian communities. Until the government and society deal with the issue of citizenship and illegal migrants, especially with regards to Haitians, we are gonna see a whole lot more bloody events that we are not used to. BUCKLE UP!

Posted 14 March 2016, 4:13 a.m. Suggest removal

themessenger says...

Of course our home grown Bahamian youths don't do none dat stuff aye?
I een seen to many hyshuns tearing down the people fence on PI the other day and they was some of the most angry people I seen in a while.
You want to see the cause of our societal problems just look in the mirror like all the the rest of us ignorant complacent Bahamians that have allowed our own people to destroy our country in a short 40 years.

Posted 14 March 2016, 12:23 p.m. Suggest removal

SP says...

**.................... PLP and FNM are equally culpable for the Haitian problem ......................**

Successive governments have no other choice than to accept 100% blame for this festering Haitian problem, which can only get worse!

For decades the electorates repeated calls for government to fix the Haitian immigration problem have gone totally ignored, as both parties sought more voters by selling citizenship for votes.

Haitians were used as unwitting pawns. Now innocent Bahamians will suffer the consequences as these inherently lawless, violent people begin acting out their true selves just as warned would happen by the electorate.

Haiti is constantly besieged with violent protest by these people who have no respect for their own laws and government and even less for ours!

The only solution at this stage of the game is to get tough with Haitians before they get tough on Bahamian society.

In the interest of national security, sensible self preservation decisions must be made to remove all illegal shanty towns regardless of who lives in them, roundup and deport all illegals regardless of how long they and their offspring have been here.

As deterrents, enforce stiff penalties for anyone found employing illegals and confiscate any money made illegally.

Bahamians must band together and demand these measures be implemented as this is another area where government find themselves too compromised to act in the best interest of the Bahamas and Bahamians.

Posted 14 March 2016, 8:40 a.m. Suggest removal

deanndrea says...

I don't see how, or why you people take the article of a bright life being lost, and turned it into the Haitian Crucifixion. Haitians are inherently strong willed, and even in some cases violent--but you cannot take this young lady's death and use it to persecute an entire people....I mean, why? Instead of derailing our Haitian brothers and sisters for whatever reason, let's talk about OUR young people and what we can do as a populous to help them curve or vent this anger in some other way; instead of killing our mouths on a subject that should not be the epicenter of this discussion.

Posted 14 March 2016, 10:07 a.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

This is a tragic case ........... Haitian-Bahamian school girl with promise being killed by Haitian-Bahamian street thugs .............. not a good sign for future social prospects

Posted 14 March 2016, 2:31 p.m. Suggest removal

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