A violent public incident in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, has sparked widespread concern after a senior local political official was beaten by a group of high school students when he attempted to break up a street brawl on Monday afternoon.
Alderman Wayne Griffith, 62, who serves as chairman of the Port of Spain South constituency executive for the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM), recalled the chaotic encounter in a detailed phone interview with local media. The attack unfolded around 2:30 p.m. on Dundonald Street, near the intersection with New Street, when Griffith was blocked by a crowd of students from Tranquillity Government Secondary School who had gathered in the middle of the roadway.
Upon stopping, Griffith noticed that more than a dozen teenagers were ganging up to beat a single younger boy. Griffith told reporters that one 15- to 16-year-old girl had the boy pinned in a chokehold, while the rest of the group rained down blows on him. Choosing to intervene, Griffith exited his vehicle, ordered the crowd to disperse, and pulled the girl away from the victim. What followed was a sudden, violent turn against the 62-year-old.
“Immediately, this young lady cuffed me straight in my mouth,” Griffith recalled. He attempted to step away from the confrontation, but the girl and other students continued to pursue him. Griffith tripped and fell to the ground, and the group immediately followed up with repeated punches and kicks to his head and body. A 36-second cellphone video of the assault, which has circulated widely across social media platforms, captures the female student punching Griffith, grabbing his shirt, and throwing him to the ground before other members of the group join in the attack.
Despite the sustained beating and intense pain, Griffith made the deliberate choice not to retaliate against the teenage attackers. “Although they did not act like children, I was cognisant they were children and youths,” he explained. “I took no action that could cause them harm.”
After the assault ended, Griffith slowly regained his composure and attempted to call police for help, only to discover that his cellphone and a watch, valued together at TT $7,000, had been stolen during the attack. With bystanders from nearby businesses only watching the ordeal, Griffith had to drag himself to the door of a local agency to get help.
Griffith detailed the extent of his injuries, which include deep lacerations across both knees, both elbows, and the palms of his hands, as well as severe damage to his left hamstring. While no bones were broken, he has suffered persistent severe headaches and underwent a CT scan to rule out internal brain damage, seeking treatment from a private medical provider. He added that he has no regrets over his decision to step in to stop the group attack on the younger student.
Local political leaders have publicly expressed their concern and support for Griffith following the attack. Port of Spain South MP Keith Scotland praised the alderman for his remarkable restraint, noting that if Griffith had retaliated against the minors, he would have faced widespread public condemnation instead of support. “He’s an elder, a hard worker, a patriot,” Scotland said. “I want to commend him for his restraint and discipline.”
Port of Spain Mayor Chinua Alleyne confirmed the May 4 incident in a statement, noting that the Ministry of Education and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) are both currently investigating the attack. Walter Stewart, president of the National Parent-Teacher Association, extended condolences to Griffith over the violent encounter.
As of Tuesday, local media have been unable to secure comments from Education Minister Dr Michael Dowlath and Crystal Ashe, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association, on the incident.