The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I wish to begin this letter by first offering my condolences to the family, friends, schoolmates, and teachers of the Government High School student, who was tragically and needlessly killed in a senseless rock-throwing incident.

To the men who have since been charged with the homicide of this aspiring, young honour student, I say shame on you. This young girl, an innocent bystander, an honour roll student who had her whole life ahead of her and could have been anything she wanted to be, had her life and future stolen from her by your callous act. A father, now dealing with unimaginable grief, was robbed of his beautiful, intelligent daughter. She had a future. She had dreams. She had goals and aspirations.

You, on the other hand had no such goals, dreams or aspirations. Instead, you chose to mimic the lifestyles of individuals you hear in rap and Dancehall songs, and their music videos, the so-called “Thug-Life”. To you, and people like you, the ultimate display of manhood is being as “thugged-out” and “gangsta” as possible. It’s all about being “hard”. “Een nobody could ‘F’ wit’ me! I run tings!”

It was this idiotic mentality that drove you to throw that a rock. Because you lacked “conflict resolution” (which, really, is pretty much a joke these days), you chose to involve others in your little spat. And what were you all fighting over? Rival gangs? Disrespect? A “gal”?

Whatever it was, it was evidently nothing sensible, one life extinguished, three others facing lengthy prison sentences. I hope it was worth it. You certainly proved to everyone who and what you all are: thugs.

Take a bow.

DISGUSTED

Nassau,

March 14, 2016.