I read with concern the public responses to the recent iWitness News article regarding the near-drowning of a student at a GHS event in Bequia. While I acknowledge the support being expressed for Principal Latoya DeRoche John and the important role she plays in the lives of her students, I am troubled by the tone and focus of those reactions. Rather than centring on the frightening experience of the student and the concerns raised by her family, the responses seem intent on defending the institution and its head, while dismissing the trauma of the young girl involved.
This is a dangerous pattern, one that echoes the way our society too often treats victims, particularly young and vulnerable ones. We question their timing. We pick apart their behaviour. We decide what “real” trauma should look like, and if it doesn’t meet our expectations, we cast doubt on their credibility. It is this same logic that keeps many survivors of sexual assault silent. They are afraid they will not be believed because they didn’t react “the right way” or didn’t speak up quickly enough.
Trauma manifests in many different forms. A person may freeze. A person may carry on as if nothing happened. A child may stay in a pool trying to convince herself she’s okay, only to break down later. That doesn’t make her story less true. It makes it human.
The central issue here is not whether a principal is respected or a school is beloved. The issue is whether a child in distress was taken seriously. Whether the systems and adults around her acted with the urgency, care, and empathy that such a situation demands. And whether our instinct as a society is to protect the vulnerable or to protect authority.
This is not about casting blame. It’s about creating a culture where every child feels safe, heard, and supported. We should never be so quick to defend our heroes that we silence those who need help.
And as we reflect, let us also act. Let’s put a few clear protocols in place for school trips, especially those involving pools, beaches, or other high-risk activities. What is the policy? Who is responsible for water safety? Are trained lifeguards required? Are proper student-to-chaperone ratios enforced? These are questions that deserve urgent answers.
Let us do better. Let us listen better.
Sincerely,
Marlon Bute
The opinions presented in this content belong to the author and may not necessarily reflect the perspectives or editorial stance of iWitness News. Opinion pieces can be submitted to [email protected].
Marlon if this occurred in Canada( yes I know this possibility is minuscule) what would be the possible outcomes for the parties concerned? Yes this is an unfair comparison but we must think about our future, are we developing? If you go hunting you wear special attire so that you are not accidentally shot; similarly if you take children to the beach or a swimming pool you put measures in place to ensure safety . You avoid the obvious and if God forbid you experience anything like we are hearing about you face the fire.
What a nice article Mr. Bute, spot on as usual.
I agree 100% with this article. Everyone reacts differently to trauma and for any trip involving water activities for schools or trips involving children, there should be someone assigned lifeguard duties with requisite skills. If this was in place and the person stepped away, leaves to investigation.
We need to ensure precautions are made for future school trips and adequate help given to the child. If the child is discriminated at school by teachers then that is another kettle of fish.
Orde, you are right, such a thing is unlikely to happen in Canada. Because all the safety measures would have been in place to avoid such a thing. And, if it did happen, focus would be on making sure the student is ok and gets counseling, while there would be an investigation to get to the bottom of the incident. The student would never be blamed or dismissed or treated slightly.
Sabrina, I couldn’t agree with you more.
Ando, thank you.