Dear Editor,

I write today with a heart weighed down by grief and a voice compelled by duty, not only as the principal of Christiana High School, but as a Jamaican who can no longer remain silent in the face of the growing threat to our children.

On October 7 our school community was shattered by the devastating news of the death of one of our students, Shantina Sergeant. Shantina came to us in January 2025 having completed the first term of first the Corporate Area. She was accepted into our school family with open arms and began classes at the start of the new school term.

Shantina was just 13 years old. A tender age. An age of dreams, of laughter, of discovering who you are and who you might become. She walked our school corridors with a quiet grace, a spark in her eyes, and a spirit that touched those who knew her. Her smile, her presence, her potential, they are not forgotten. They never will be.

We last saw her on October 1. Just six days later, on October 7, we should have been celebrating her 14th birthday. Instead, a day that should have been filled with balloons, laughter, and cake became one of heartbreak, disbelief, and mourning. The circumstances surrounding her death are as horrifying as they are heartbreaking, and they have left an indelible scar on our hearts.

As we mourn Shantina we are also gripped by the ongoing disappearance of 12-year-old Jayden Smith, a student of Manchester High School who has now been missing for over three weeks. His family, his school, and the wider community remain in a state of agonising uncertainty, praying for his safe return.

These tragedies are not isolated. They are part of a disturbing and escalating pattern of violence, neglect, and vulnerability that our children face daily. We must confront the painful truth: Jamaica is failing its children. When our young ones are not safe in their homes, on their way to school, or within their communities, we must ask, what more must happen before we act?

I call upon every Jamaican — our leaders, our law enforcement agents, our educators, our parents, and our neighbours — to rise in unity and purpose. We must strengthen our child protection systems, invest in mental health and community outreach, and foster a culture in which every child is seen, heard, and safeguarded.

Let Shantina’s memory and the hope for Jayden’s safe return be the catalyst for a national awakening. Let us honour them not only with our tears, but with action.

Leecent Wallace

Principal

Christiana High School

leecentw@yahoo.com