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UPDATE: Police called over bike incident @ ESHS– Education Ministry

October 9th, 2023 | Tags: armed persons ESHS police fight lockdown
Police on the scene at Elmore Stoutt High School today, October 9, 2023. Photo: Team of Reporters
There are reports of armed persons entering ESHS compound to fight with students. Photo: Team of Reporters
There are reports of armed persons entering ESHS compound to fight with students. Photo: Team of Reporters
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Following some pandemonium at the Elmore Stoutt High School today, October 9, 2023, the Ministry of Education has today released a statement on what transpired on the campus.

The Education Ministry today, October 2023, said the on the campus that involved an alleged retaliation in connection with a stolen bike, “During the altercation, one student left the campus premises, prompting our school officials to initiate an immediate investigation. As a result of our evaluation of the situation, a decision was made to contact local law enforcement for assistance. 

The statement added that authorities were already on campus when the student who had left the premises returned, accompanied by three other individuals on bikes, “Notably, one of these individuals was wearing a mask. We would like to clarify that upon the police's arrival and subsequent detainment of these individuals, no firearms or other weapons were found in their possession.”

Situation was brought under control - Ministry 

According to the Education Ministry, the situation was swiftly brought under control in less than 15 minutes and parents fully informed with the details of the incident were promptly communicated via email and social media.

“Additionally, we allowed parents who wished to collect their children from school early to do so, prioritizing their peace of mind during this time of concern.”

The Education Ministry added that some misinformation circulating regarding this incident, which has led to unnecessary disruption both on and off-campus activity, “We urge all members of our community to rely on official updates and information from the school administration to ensure the accuracy of the details they receive.”

The Ministry of Education says it has an unwavering commitment to the safety and security of our students and staff and will maintain a strict zero-tolerance policy when it comes to matters of indiscipline and poor student conduct.

“The well-being of everyone within our school community remains our highest priority,” the Ministry said.

See previous story published today, October 9, 2023

Panic as armed persons allegedly enter ESHS compound

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- There was pandemonium at Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) as armed persons reportedly entered the compound to reportedly fight with students close to lunch time today, October 9, 2023.

According to reports reaching our newsroom, the armed persons were "hooded".

Videos shared with our newsroom showed students running away from the area where students usually converge for lunch under a big tent. 

Photographs and videos shared also showed a heavy police presence at the school.

It is our understanding ESHS is on lockdown.

There have been no reports of injuries.

We will provide more information as it becomes available.

61 Responses to “UPDATE: Police called over bike incident @ ESHS– Education Ministry”

  • Linda (09/10/2023, 15:05) Like (42) Dislike (4) Reply
    Dear GOD! No, not our children now! What in heaven's name is going on here? These guns are brought in by adult criminals and allow our children to get their hands on them to settle arguments and want to kill anyone they have a beef with. It has to STOP NOW!!! To the RVIP, do what you have to do so this can STOP now before it gets out of hand. As a matter of fact, it is already out of hand. I would have never imagined something like this would happen here. GOD be with us and take us out of this nightmare!
    • @linda (09/10/2023, 18:53) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
      The truth is out now and it is clear the school officials were proactive to ensure the safety of the children.
    • @linda (09/10/2023, 22:19) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      It is so sad what we have come to. We the citizens need to take back our country. We need to work with the police to put a stop to all this gangster behavior by some of our youngsters. We are losing our children to gun violence. Let us save them by taking a stand and not allowing it to continue. Each parent who is aware of their child/children’s wrongdoings, please get assistance to stop it. Better to be alive at Balsam Ghut than to be 6 feet under. Let this end now. Youngsters, we want you alive and well to grow up and enjoy a peaceful and loving life. We want you to grow old not die young. Please stop the violence.
    • Sipping My Tea (10/10/2023, 05:19) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
      Why did the children ran, that is the question to be answered.
    • SPENDING MONEY RACKING UP FREQUENT FLYER MILES (10/10/2023, 06:43) Like (60) Dislike (3) Reply
      The Minister of Education is more concerned about hopping on a plane with her Asst in tow at whatever event pops up.

      Every other day they’re somewhere abroad BUT CAN’T PAY TEACHERS A DECENT SALARY.

      It is ABSOLUTELY UNNECESSARY!!
    • Ruckus Going On for More Than 15 Minutes (10/10/2023, 07:47) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Around 12:20pm, there were teachers, a counselor, guards at the gate on the side by the softball field with a student on a scooter, one with his white undershirt outside the gate like they were trying to get in. A teacher was on her phone inside the gate.

      Two scooters were blazing heading towards the high school area through Lower Estate (one rider looked enraged while the other had his face partially covered with an orange material)
  • WOW (09/10/2023, 15:06) Like (67) Dislike (5) Reply
    Wow . They need to assign police officers to the schools and invest In metal detectors.
    • No (09/10/2023, 15:58) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
      THEY NEED TO STEP ON THE SO-CALL BAD BOYS THROATS.
    • agreed (09/10/2023, 16:10) Like (20) Dislike (1) Reply
      I agree and surveillance cameras around the school with assigned officers to monitor the surveillance.
  • Be Honest ESHS (09/10/2023, 15:08) Like (74) Dislike (2) Reply
    The school needs to stop minimizing what transpired when it is clear from the video someone mentioned an individual had a gun.

    Other persons saw partially masked individuals approaching the direction of the school.
    • Sick And Tired (09/10/2023, 15:28) Like (54) Dislike (0) Reply

      The school is trying to save face. The children know what they saw. Imagine the children panicking and scared and still some of the teachers there shouting at them and acting like pigs. That school love to sweep things under the rug to much. Its about time us as parents stand up to the bullsh** that's going on in there. The children did see a gun , parents please don’t let the school fool you with the lies they are coming with.

    • @Be honest (09/10/2023, 15:57) Like (9) Dislike (15) Reply
      The person in the video was referring to Police with guns, not a kid with a gun. Why would the school hide something like that? We have become so negative as a society that we pretend to want the good out of things but down inside all we want is negative.
      • Yep (09/10/2023, 22:05) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
        The police guns is what the kids said scared them. They didn't see any other gun. A few children started running and screaming then everyone was confused and running and screaming.
      • @@Be honest (10/10/2023, 10:18) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        They would hide it because it would show that the school is not a secured and safe space as guns have easily made way onto the campus….
    • Be honest eshs 2 (09/10/2023, 16:26) Like (13) Dislike (2) Reply
      Don’t know why they trying to lie about what happen today who lying or denying need to get fired not a good exam setting for the children
    • @Be Honest ESHS (09/10/2023, 18:55) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
      The best of ayo is gossip. Ayo are never there but always know more than who was there. The school officials have released a statement clearly stating what happened. They must be commended for how they handled it. Thank God it was under control and no one got hurt. Thank God it was not how you were saying also.
  • History (09/10/2023, 15:09) Like (12) Dislike (70) Reply
    Check every country where the British took over or tried to take over under the cloak of good governance and see how the social, spiritual, and financial aspect of the country decayed significantly and quickly. These people hands are not clean. The BVI has its own fault too but they are no worse than anywhere else.
    • @History (09/10/2023, 15:24) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      You read the headline?
    • A Capitalist Who Loves the BVI (09/10/2023, 15:27) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      So that includes Bermuda - right? And the Cayman Islands?
    • Jiggles (09/10/2023, 15:42) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
      You took your brain out before you type this comment dawg?
    • @History (09/10/2023, 15:59) Like (9) Dislike (3) Reply
      You're an idiot - go away.
    • To History (09/10/2023, 16:17) Like (26) Dislike (7) Reply
      You people insist on blaming the UK for everything and refuse to take any responsibility for the state of our country. Good god….no wonder we are in the condition that we find ourselves in.
      • @To History (09/10/2023, 17:44) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
        The truth hurts and does not need anyone's belief to be true. Go do your research and you will be shocked of the results.
    • @History (09/10/2023, 17:16) Like (8) Dislike (6) Reply
      It seems you are confusing the British with the French and the Spanish.
  • smdh (09/10/2023, 15:29) Like (15) Dislike (6) Reply
    where the education minister. oh I now remember she Singapore. As d4 rep said if we have to travel we going travel. say what aye want.

    Natalio still here or he gone again?????
  • Poor Administration (09/10/2023, 15:52) Like (17) Dislike (6) Reply
    Again, another result of poor administration. Maybe they need to stop focusing on nonsense such as measuring the hems of school skirts and ancle socks being too short and put proper security in place with metal detectors to keep our children safe. Just sick and tired of that institution, time for a new Principal.
    • @Poor Administration (09/10/2023, 18:56) Like (2) Dislike (8) Reply
      Read the updated statement and you would see you are speaking foolishness out of hatred.
    • @ Poor Administration (09/10/2023, 19:14) Like (11) Dislike (8) Reply
      Don’t forget they focus on hairstyles too. If you have in crotchet braids, this and that type of braids, if your eye glasses real, want to take out your hairstyle the first day of the week if you were in a wedding the weekend.

      Retarded system.

      • @@poor administration (09/10/2023, 22:44) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
        If you know the school rules don't make excuses about wedding etc work with the rules and adjust your style by Monday morning before entering the school compound. This is why we have so much society breakdown because we refuse to follow rules. As parents we must be held accountable also. Its parents who make children not children making parents. To many children are refusing to respect rules.
  • @ HISTORY (09/10/2023, 15:53) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    EVERY DAY ITS THE SAME RACISM LYRICS FROM YOU / IS THIS HOW YOU GET YOUR KICKS ? MAKE SURE YOUR PAWS ARE CLEAN WE AIN'T COMPARI G HERE TO ANYWHERE IDIOT WE DON'T WANT IT HERE AND IF ITS HAPPENING HERE WE HAVE TO STOMP IT OUT , NOT HIDE IT BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF CLANDISTINE THINGS THAT IS HIDDEN HERE IS EXPOSING ITSELF NOW , YOU WANT TO CREATE DISTRACTION , YEAH RITE , GO AHEAD AND BLAME THE UK , SOME NERD LIKE YOU WOULD BE FOOLED BY YOU / HOW ABOUT " FREE THE WEED OR FREE THE DREW ? YOU FORGETTING YOUR LINES NOW OR WAH ? ( AKA ) THE SCRIPT
  • smh (09/10/2023, 15:56) Like (2) Dislike (12) Reply
    NOBODY WAS ARMED except the Police!!!
    • @SMH (10/10/2023, 05:09) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      Were you there? Is there close up camera footage of all suspects that returned to the school from that moment to their moment of arrest?? Gun could’ve easily been tossed in a drain in bushes garbage bin etc when the individuals became aware of police presence
  • HMMM (09/10/2023, 16:12) Like (19) Dislike (2) Reply
    Where S Decasrro? In Singapore doing what?! A waste of taxpayers money!
  • A new low (09/10/2023, 16:33) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Very sad. If only we had CCTV, these idiots could be tracked back to their little burrows.
  • Proactive (09/10/2023, 16:39) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    Let's be proactive, not reactive.

    Start with bag checks again for everyone...staff, visitors, students...

    Check ALL types of vehicles driving in on the campus too!

    No uniform (for students), no entrance, without valid documentation.
  • G b media (09/10/2023, 16:42) Like (6) Dislike (9) Reply
    Some of you in the media will tell a bunch of lies about this incident for your own political agenda
  • Real Talk (09/10/2023, 17:09) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
    Stop blaming the British, is it British growing you all children blame you all selt for the decay in the society not British, it will even get worst when you all get independence and no one looking over you.
  • Thinker (09/10/2023, 17:15) Like (43) Dislike (0) Reply
    maybe myron was on to something with that wall. on a serious note though, this needs to stop!!! my heart broke seeing those babies running for their lives :((((
  • myrun (09/10/2023, 17:18) Like (18) Dislike (2) Reply
    See why we need more walls around the schools?
    • Marla (09/10/2023, 19:27) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      We don't need anymore walls. We need the powers that be to stop the loitering around the school gates. Simply!
  • COMPROMISED (09/10/2023, 17:20) Like (2) Dislike (8) Reply
    DID THE GOARD AT THE GATE LET HIS GUARD DOWN OR HE RAN FOR HIS LIFE?
  • T (09/10/2023, 18:13) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Nothing nah go on so aĺl the gun man them going crazy all of them some turn gun on one another punch time to ripe
  • vi (09/10/2023, 18:40) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
    These armed perpetrators should be shot on-site by the police.. we need to start sending a strong message to these cowboys. The Governor needs to act now and bring in some British Soldiers to help clean up this filth.
  • Amazing (09/10/2023, 18:59) Like (2) Dislike (6) Reply
    Most of you posting things you know nothing about. The situation was far from what most of you are saying. Both the Administration and the Government handled this matter in a proactive way and they must be commended as there was no gun except those of the police officers.
  • bvi islander (09/10/2023, 19:02) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    I was passing through the high school a night walking and Apparently he was trying to enter the school campus with his bike and was denied access into the school compound However he was so aggressive towards the security oficer i was so scared for the security officer they need make an example out his lil ass these want to be thugs ..badness out of style young bad boys dont last long on earth at all .
  • smh (09/10/2023, 19:15) Like (9) Dislike (3) Reply
    When you all lie to people how can they trust ah to with there children videos going around million children in the school so way trying say all them telling lies
  • ok (09/10/2023, 19:20) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    The Gov press release from NSC said there was a gun, even if it not real. There was a gun involved.
  • Ah tired of it (09/10/2023, 19:38) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    When these type of incidence occur on a school campus, we got to think seriously about the situation. They need to have drills so that the children are not running around in every direction. I pray to God for our young people. Some of them are afraid, there might be retaliation.
  • jokers (09/10/2023, 22:19) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    Bunch of jokers for Principals. Worst school in the BVI, the other secondary school principals must be wondering if monkeys are running that school.
  • formerstudent (09/10/2023, 22:20) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    One thing bout this school is that they ALWAYS hiding the truth and downplaying situation
    The children see and hear the gun go off
  • Eagle (10/10/2023, 00:26) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is high time students who choose to keep disrupting the school to be expelled and let the other children attend school in peace. If they choose to continue to disrupt the school, take the out and let them attend night school if they choose. You can't continue to give them chances to ruin things for other children. Let the parents deal with their rotten apples.
  • agreed (10/10/2023, 05:12) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is just a bandaid to the problem. Getting rid of scooters is just one problem. How the student was able to leave the premises and re-enter the premises is the bigger problem. This isn't the first incident where unauthorized persons gained entry to the premises without going through the appropriate security check points. This is a far greater problem that does requires immediate attention. What are the protocols that are put in place to omit further occurrence. Don't just band the scooters, rid the source of the problem.
  • 2023 (10/10/2023, 05:21) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    if you were born in the territory you need to change the mindset because your actions is given others an opportunity to be disrespectful to the forefathers of this Land

    Gun activity is a very serious matter because innocent people will become injured because of the foolishness: respect yourself, dust yourself off and get up stand up for the right

    i can safely say those of we over 60 years never thought we would live to see our country in such a situation
  • Hmm (10/10/2023, 05:49) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    So now bikes ban, why such a hasty move.
    • jack@$$ (10/10/2023, 13:43) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Because we don't blame people for the things they do, we choose to blame the things they used instead.
  • Hmm (10/10/2023, 13:39) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    One thing I know is BVI school children love to run TOWARDS a fight and gawk at it.

    If they were running away hmm that is odd nearly extraordinary.
  • Wall win (10/10/2023, 13:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The million-dollar security wall doing a good job.
  • Graduate2023 (10/10/2023, 13:51) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    this school need to work on trying to prevent these problem instead of suspending people for phone and reprimanding children for socks and skirt length . we need parents help too but some of them they dont be involved in their child life .

    this isnt the first time an unauthorized person entered this campus . they need to address that one problem there .
    these same troublemakers be involved in these ‘ gang activity ‘ outside school , smuggling dřǔğs n wēāpōn inside school , fighting , etc.

    this school just so focused on trying to look presentable & going as far as lying to keep up their reputation . - like how dem say it didnt have guns and it did . these people who ‘run’ the school are super ignorant .
  • Yep (10/10/2023, 13:54) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I know phones are a major distraction to these children in school, but with this situation, we all know they’ll probably walk with them now. And I don’t blame them sorry.
  • chupes (10/10/2023, 13:57) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    these ppl in the skl does just move too fraidy fraidy with expulsion. ayo the same school pushing limit to have the best reputation (it not working with the amount of fight videos and public bullying that involves them students all the time) so if ayo wan keep up ayo already failing reputation then start expelling these troublemaker. ayo putting other people children at risk keeping them children in this school.


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