And to make sure the right message is sent to the perpetrators and the community, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams zoomed down to south Stann Creek today for a first hand intervention.
It was necessary because last night there was another escalation - this time between the families of the alleged aggressors - who are high school boys - and the victim - whose mother is a pastor.
Commissioner Williams told us via phone what he found down there today:
Voice of: Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"The victim was brought in along with his mother and he gave a statement and the accusers were also brought in along with their parents. They were interviewed and eventually they were charged in respect of that matter."
"Some were charged for using a computer device to coerce or intimidate a person and then one of them was charged for harm. That should be the one who struck the young man in the face. Subsequent to that there was information last night that the family of the victim were threatened and they were trying to make report to the police in Santa Cruz as well as in Independence and they got the push around."
"Based on that I saw a post on social media where a Lady Ms. Lemus was complaining about the actions of the police. I immediately called Mr. Victorin again and instructed that the matter be dealt with. Make sure that the persons against whom the allegation was being made that they be picked up and to ensure that the mother of the victim would have been allowed to give her statement and so I went down this morning and met with our party that is the victim and his mother as well as the accusers and their parents and we had an intervention session."
"The objective there was basically to ensure that the matter do not escalate any further. These are people who live in a very small community. For me it's a matter to ensure that these young boys are held to account for the actions."
"While I believe that we must not punish them so severe that they will lose the opportunity to complete their education. I also believe that whatever decision is made it must be in their best interest and I had said I want two things to be done."
"One, would be that the court would refer the matter to the diversion program and then as a part of a diversion program I would like to see that the court order for them to make a visit to prison so that they can see exactly what prison is like, and two, I would ask the court to make an order for them to be the face of an anti-bullying campaign because again more and more we're seeing these videos emerging with young people bullying each other and I think that it has reached a stage now where as a society we need to make a stand to ensure that this does not occur."
"The punishment for me it must suit the act that they did but at the same time It must also be used as a learning example for them to understand that what they did was wrong and for them to be able to make corrective measures."
"The parents apologized for the actions of their children and the children also apologized to the young man and his family for what they did and promised that this is not going to happen again."
The compol says he also called the school's high school principal to urge the school board to come up with a punishment that makes sure they remain in school.
