EDUCATION Minister Dr Michael Dowlath is condemning the shooting of 17-year-old Zwade Alleyne and has committed to providing the support needed by his peers and family members.

In a press release from the Ministry of Education sent on Monday, Dowlath said, “This act of violence against one of our nation’s youth is deeply troubling and wholly unacceptable. Our prayers are with Zwade and his family during this extremely difficult time.”

On the night of May 10, Alleyne, a Form Five student of Arima North Secondary School, was socialising with friends when an unidentified group of individuals opened fire on them. Alleyne was hit and taken to the Arima hospital. Subsequently he was transferred to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, where he remains in critical condition.

Dowlath assured Alleyne’s family that the Ministry is ready to provide the psychosocial support needed for his peers and teaching staff through the Ministry’s Student Support Services Division.

Alleyne was registered to take part in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. The Ministry pledged to re-register him for the May/June 2026 examination period at no cost to his family.