Minister of State Reaffirms Zero Tolerance on Bullying Following Severe Injury of St. John’s Student

Minister of State in the Ministry of Education Dr. Louis Zabaneh has reiterated the ministry’s zero-tolerance policy on bullying, following the injury of St. John’s College student Dominick Alvarado. As we reported on Monday, Alvarado’s brother took to social media, alleging Dominick had been severely bullied to the point where he was hospitalized. It is alleged that he suffered a broken hip and had to undergo emergency surgery due to the actions of his bullies. Speaking with Love News today, Dr. Zabaneh says he has not gotten a report on the incident, but that the ministry’s stance on bullying is non-negotiable. He added that there are larger issues at play, such as the greater need for psychology training for teachers, and the need to address the issues that lead some students to become bullies. 

Police are investigating the situation and say that someone will be charged if they are found to be responsible for Alvarado’s injuries. Meanwhile, the management at Saint John’s College issued a release on the matter with a mere three sentences. The school said that it is aware of the Facebook post that was made by Alvarado’s brother and that it has since contacted his parents. SJC also says that it wishes Alvarado a speedy recovery. We note that this woefully short response highlights a social media post as opposed to confronting the allegations of bullying or potential legal consequences students might be facing.