When bullying leads to death; the tragic case of Demarco Gibs

BY LA SHAWNA GRIFFITH

Bullying!

For some of us, when we hear this word it can bring back a lot of painful memories about our: childhood, adolescence, or even adulthood.

Bullying is defined as the force, coercion, or threat to abuse, aggressively dominate or intimidate a person. In Barbados bullying has reared its ugly head once again resulting in the death of ten-year-old Eagle Hall Primary Student Demarco Gibs.

Gibs’ plight was first reported by The Nation Newspaper where Gibs’ mother Tricia Gibs reported that her son had been a victim of bullying as four young males ages seven to eleven struck him in the head with a piece of wood while they were playing on June 14^th, 2020.

He received treatment at the state-owned Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the Intensive Care Unit with serious brain injuries. He recovered four weeks later and was sent home.

One can decide whether or not it was responsible for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to discharge a young man who had serious brain injuries and leave him in the care of his family members.

It is for you the reader to decide if you think it was wise of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to discharge Demarco Gibs, a mere four weeks after he not only suffered brain injuries, but emotional and psychological trauma from the vicious attack.

As fate would have it, Gibs was re-hospitalized on July 16^th, 2020 and remained a patient in the Intensive Care Unit until he succumbed to his injuries on August 18^th, 2020.

His death sparked outrage, as many people took to social media to state that they believe the perpetrators should be held accountable for taking a young son of the soil’s life so unexpectedly.

To date, none of the young males involved have publicly apologized for their actions or have shared their side into what exactly made them strike Gibs’ in the head repeatedly with a piece of wood.

Petitions have been started and marches have been held demanding justice for Demarco Gibs. Many concerned family members, parents, and friends have stated that bullying in Barbados needs to be curbed, before it is another family experiencing the heartache and pain that his mother Tricia Gibs now faces as she prepares to make funeral arrangements for her son.

Demarco’s case is not an isolated case as in 2009 Ian Elroy Gibson, a then-student at the Princess Margaret Secondary School, ran from three bullies and unfortunately was struck by a vehicle and later succumbed to his injuries.

In the ruling of the case, Deputy Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) said in an article reported by Barbados TODAY Inc, “I believe this case should stand out; should be a benchmark to everyone in the society. In every school, this case should be prominent; principals should use this to teach their students about bullying and its possible consequences. Young Ian paid the greatest possible price- his life.”

Gibson’s case, which was finally trailed with sentencing June 9^th, 2020, eleven years after he met his untimely death, we hope that Gibs receives justice for her son swiftly.

One of the recommendations would be that the young men be enrolled to give community service at the Barbados Vagrants and Homeless, or the Nature Fun Ranch, as well as being enrolled in a conflict resolution programme where they can learn other ways of handling their anger.