Two fights break out at Sports Center, now Police, Parents, Coaches and Commission working better for safety

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, November 15, 2022 – A schoolboy fight turned serious and two weekends ago and it was concerning.  A teenager was injured outside the Gus Lightbourne Sports Center and the student had to be taken to hospital.  The incident, seen not so much in person but via a widely shared social media video brought fresh and disturbing feelings to a country overwhelmed by the uncommon gravity and debased nature of recent crime.

Police did confirm the incident in a statement.  The report said it was a fight between minors and officers observed a male teenager bleeding. After applying pressure to the wound they transported him to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre for further treatment.

Based on frantic cellphone videos what we do know is that at least two fights broke out at the gym over the weekend. It’s not clear how the fight between a group of boys began but at least five armed with fists and what appear to be stones are actively swinging and punching at each other in the dirt.

Without a single adult in sight the fight goes on until one young man is knocked to the ground at the feet of the sports center sign. Immediately the fighters begin to scatter.  The screaming which had been present up to that point becomes even more frantic with calls of “He’s bleeding”.

The Sports Commission is now reinforcing security measures at its venues.  The Commission condemned the behavior emphasizing that it was not tolerated at their facilities.

At least 8 young men were seen in the cell phone recording, trying to help the injured to stand which by the end of the 37 second video he still fails to do and they end up half dragging him possibly to get help. The penalty for inflicting bodily injury on an individual with or without a weapon is up to five years for adults in The Turks and Caicos islands.

The second fight involved two young ladies.  They attacked each other throwing  themselves to the concrete. It was not clear what caused the explosion of animosity between the student groups but not there are changes.

As such, all spectators will now be required to vacate the premises immediately upon the conclusion of events, and  parents must pick up their children no later than thirty minutes after any event. Schools are being advised to coordinate transportation for their respective sports teams.

Magnetic Media recently reported on the worrying effects of experiencing violence on the child psyche, one psychiatrist explained that children who experience violence sometimes during the violence to solve their own issues, resulting in a dangerous cycle.

The TCI Sports Commission is now calling on parents and coaches to properly socialize and manage their youngsters.  Also new, identification will be required for some residents to enter sporting facilities and the Police Force will be present to maintain peace at sporting venues.

The TCI Sports Commission is currently hosting its Inter-High School Basketball Season and reopened its Softball season at the Gus Lightbourne Gym.