“Bullying is not mischief; it is a form of violence, and when this is left unchecked, it becomes a silent epidemic that robs children of their confidence, their community, and in some cases, even their classrooms,” says Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro.
He delivered the message last Wednesday during his meeting with ten-year-old Jaydon Audain, who was bullied at school because of a medical condition.
The Commissioner urged both adults and children to reject bullying in all its forms, while stressing that the T&T Police Service (TTPS) has firmly rejected it, whether physical, verbal, digital, or psychological.
Reflecting on his interaction with Jaydon, whose entire life has had “to be reshaped, not by choice, but by cruelty,” Guevarro said the police were not just enforcers of the law but also “protectors of dignity.”
Jaydon was invited to meet the top cop at the Police Administration Building in Port-of-Spain. There, the two spoke about the youngster’s challenges, as well as his dream to one day sit in the Commissioner’s chair with the aim of being able to “lock up all the bad guys.”
Explaining that Jaydon was now being home-schooled, the CoP said it was not because of a lack of ambition, “but because he was denied safety in a place meant to nurture.”
Diagnosed with a medical condition at a young age while attending public school, Jaydon was bullied by his peers and eventually removed from the system.
With the new school year just days away, Guevarro issued a strong warning, vowing, “We will not allow intimidation to masquerade as childhood antics.”
He noted that bullying was not confined to classrooms, pointing out that he encountered people daily who hid behind the anonymity of the internet and “attempt to deploy bullying tactics against me personally.”
“They hurl insults, fabricate narratives, and weaponise keyboards with the hope of shaking institutional resolve,” he said.
Despite this, the CoP assured, “It does not work. Your shadows do not frighten those who walk in the light of duty.”
During Jaydon’s meeting with Guevarro, the youngster prayed for the Commissioner’s safety as he carried out his duties.
In turn, Guevarro encouraged him to continue excelling in his studies while showing respect for his parents and especially his grandmother, Sharon Armour, who accompanied him on the visit.
He also urged Jaydon to become a defender of justice, telling him, “Be a buddy, not a bully.”
He reminded, “Your words carry weight. Your actions shape lives. Choose kindness. Choose courage. Choose to stand up and not stand by.”
The Commissioner then called on parents, educators, and community leaders to act collectively, saying, “Let us be vigilant. Let us be vocal, and let us be united in ensuring that no child feels safer outside the school’s gates than within.”
Guevarro said Jaydon’s story was not only cautionary but also a call to action, one which those in authority had a responsibility to heed.
Jaydon, during the meeting, had a message for other young people facing bullying.
He urged them, “Be brave and don’t let anything get in the way of your studies and your dreams. The police are there to help you if you are being bullied.”
Guevarro also reserved some words for the “keyboard warriors.”
“If courage was as easy to download as criticism, perhaps, just perhaps, you all will finally show up and meet me in person.”
