Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has endorsed Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s call for violent and persistently disruptive students to be removed from schools.

Sharing a Guardian Media report on the controversy, Browne suggested greater attention should be directed towards parents.

“Endorsed. Send them to hot up those parents who are raising criminals homes instead,” he wrote.

Persad-Bissessar has rejected criticism of her position, arguing that well-behaved students should not be forced to attend school in fear of being beaten, robbed or harassed by violent classmates.

She has urged teachers and principals to adopt a zero-tolerance approach, saying students who refuse to behave should be sent home when their parents fail to address repeated concerns.

The proposal has drawn criticism from the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association, the National Parent Teacher Association and former Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly. They have questioned whether removing students without appropriate intervention would address the underlying causes of their behaviour.

Persad-Bissessar has remained firm, accusing critics of failing to offer adequate solutions to protect teachers and students.

The debate comes amid an increase in reported fights involving schoolchildren. Police recorded at least 27 such incidents in 2025, compared with at least 36 so far in 2026.

Source: Antigua News Room Antigua PM Backs Persad-Bissessar’s Tough Stance on Violent Students.