Advocate Raises Alarm Over Silence Following Alleged Predator Incident at Foundation Mixed School
St. John’s, Antigua – Child rights advocate Dr. Cleon Athill is calling out what she describes as a dangerous silence surrounding an alleged incident involving a man luring young students with money at Foundation Mixed School on Wednesday, March 25, 2025.
In a strongly worded post on social media, Athill said the alleged incident involved a man entering the school compound and attempting to lure Grade 2 students—approximately 7 to 8 years old—with money. Despite the seriousness of the matter, Athill says the event has gone unreported in the media, and there has been no public advisory from the Ministry of Education or law enforcement.
“No news outlet took it up. No reporter made a news item of it. No advisory to the public from the ministry alerting that there’s a predator on the loose!” Athill wrote.
Athill, who has spent years advocating against domestic violence and child abuse, emphasized that perpetrators “thrive in silence” and “hide in dark places,” underscoring her frustration with the lack of public response.
The incident, she said, occurred just two days before the Ministry of Education encouraged a national ‘School Uniform Day’—a symbolic event in which adults dressed in children’s school uniforms. Athill had previously raised concerns that the initiative could potentially blur boundaries and inadvertently expose children to risk, but her caution was widely dismissed at the time.
“It happened when adults were busy cussing an advocate of child protection… and rubbishing the call to consider how wearing children’s uniform might, even in the slightest, pose a risk to children’s safety,” she said.
Athill criticized the Ministry for promoting the uniform initiative despite being aware of the March 25 incident, arguing that such decisions demonstrate a failure in the Ministry’s duty of care.
“The police knew! And even up to now… no word,” she stated.
The post has since gained traction online, with several users echoing her calls for transparency and accountability. As of this publication, no formal statement has been issued by the Ministry of Education or the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda regarding the alleged incident.
“Our children deserve better,” Athill concluded. “As adults, we are the biggest risk to our children’s safety.”
Calls are now mounting for the relevant authorities to address the incident, provide clarity to the public, and strengthen child protection protocols at schools across the island.
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Yeah I think that was foolish because I saw adult dressed like school kids which was a good facade to enter school premises or mingle with them after the murder and abduction of Chantel, it was unimaginable that these politicians perfunctorily moan Chantels murder but still show the lease concern for our Black picknie, if it was that white people school at Buckleys you would a hear all the politicians come out and take action to get white validation, it’s heartless, what thos woman athil was calling on them to to do and acknowledge would have obtain in other countries, in virgin islands this woman would have been placed at the forefront in the news. Antigua has been made a very strange place where we operate a particular way from the indoctrination from one family the ALP bird dynasty state capture of all institution of our lives, a lot of people who are said to be academic are frauds, back then the parents go to their politicians to have their children placed in schools they had not qualify for, so everything is upside down in ANTIGUA, a none college or secondary school individual may be the brightest bulb in the room by natural ability. Crazy place.
The Cabinet Of spent their time debating what adjectives were befitting for the lady who dared to make the Police and the Government seem irrelevant during the Chantel Crump tragedy. They finally settled with, ‘Troublemaker,Attention seeker and Puppet for the Opposition. They were all silent except when they came out to berate those who they deemed were taking away their spotlight. Their silence was as pronounced as the Alfa Nero deal.
Did the School management make any serious effort to alert the public though? As much as I love and admire Dr. Athill as a professional, I cannot overlook a major flaw of hers – propensity for hugging the spotlight and and getting attention! I recall some years ago when she was looking to enter into politics, she had the nation in an uproar following an accusation made against a Syrian store owner. She accused him of calling her a monkey. She then tried to get the population to join her in a mass demonstration outside his premises, which failed miserably. At least, Antiguans git ti know her name. Shortly thereafter her name appeared on the UPP ballot to contest a seat in Parliament against Hon. Chet Greene , in which she also failed. Now with talks of a new political party being formed led by Richard Lewis, lo and behold, Dr. Athill resurfaces. Maybe with good reasons, Antiguans are being mistaken for fools .
Mr. Commissioner! Any explanations for the news blackout of this most serious occurrence, ……. if it happened at all
Faithful I have known of this lady since she was my guidance counselor, in secondary school, and she is nothing like the way you have tried to paint her. Though I disagree with her on many things, one thing for sure is she is that she will fight for the things she believes will make Antigua better
I should think the school is the first place that should come out with a press release, it happened on their premises, but it’s not the PM children or Minister of Education Children Or the Chief of Police, children, so it doh matter, can’t we see is back to business as usual, the silence in this place is just deafening
What could have happened if the predator was dressed in the school’s uniform. Maybe he could have escaped with more than one child. Then again our island would be on angiish and mourning.
Faithful National you are so correct. She seems like she don’t know how to come off the stage. Thanks for reminding us about the Syrian store owner saga. I supported her than but have grown weary of her bullish behavior. She chastised the UPP care taker for saying that he believed that while standing on the other side of Ya-so-so that a missile was sent in his direction. That sounds straight out of her playbook. He was her right hand . Then after she resigned from the UPP political party she took to media round and was relentlessly in attacking the UPP party. Back when while she was still teaching , during working hours she went on Observer radio, almost on a daily basis and lambasting the government. Then as youth director she was again on radio during work time. It was against the decriminalization of marijuana. It’s not what you do and say Dr. Athill is who you say it and do it. Always insulting people’s intelligence.
Over the past week she was insulted fellow citizens , who did not agree with her. Talking about her education and those with higher learning. As if the masses are too dunce to understand and make a determination for themselves. She made reference of university graduates as if that is the beginning and end of education.
She is now at the point of obsession. In the past people that get so obsessed have committed or influenced others to, to prove or promote their point of views. ( not saying she did , but she sounds that desperate).
Dr. Athill you need to take a more humble approach to life. The people even those that support your point of view don’t like your bullying approach. Stop pretending to be a paragon of virtue.
1. Get your facts straight. The picture you are painting is one of the school being negligent
2. If I was the head of law enforcement I would be livid as your demand for attention may have jeopardized any potential activity that may have been set in place to circumvent such behavior
I don’t know we believe the best thing to do is run to media as soon as something happens. I’m also not clear how dressing like children for one day would influence anybody. If they were interested in children they would always be interested regardless. And just because you dress as a child that makes you invisible so you can blend in with children? I’ve never heard anything so preposterous. The rules and regulations for all schools remain the same no matter if you are dressed as a king or queen, much less a child!
Hopefully a reporter will follow up with the school so we can have full transparency on this issue
To the person Ranting about its the school that should’ve did the press conference.The school responsibility is to call the police,then it’s the government responsibility to inform the public Government are not doing what they need to do to protect these children first of all that parade of adults dressing like children accessing the school these days should’ve been a no no if they want to celebrate alumni do it after school at a hall not in school ,you can visit the school introducing your self but not in uniform adult act like adult showing the kids example.why isn’t the government handling these matters better father’s are going to have to take matters into their own hands.
I remember over 10 years ago a boy from Grammar School put on Jennings Secondary School uniform, went onto their campus and stabbed one of their students in the neck. The victim survived.
I don’t believe that story. She is against adults dressing like school children so she come up with something to support her story. To the best of my knowledge, Foundation mix school and teaches are are very professional in what they do. One of the best private schools. If something like that had happened, the school that I know would not cover it up neither the Police. I believe she is creating fear in children and spoiling the good name of foundation mix to prove a point.
Listen ppl. I’m fed up! I’m in New York and seeing all this. For a while now. My family from Antigua I go n come. I have money. I feel like to come n stay and just work for myself and tint up and drive around and keep my eyes open. Schools residents all that. We gotta protect our own fam police get paid to shut up. Antigua government greedy so in a way I expect police to say shit since we nah get pay me no k but, ppl like me no dey pon dat. Everybody a get punishment. Antigua full of partying n jealousy. No protection fornnothing. N when things happen yall say “oh no!” And then right back to partying.
Me soon come man. Me go catch someone in the act and me a light them a fire after me miss dem head back n let dem dey. Tell police come pass all them crime that a happen and come lock me up. Fools
U gotta be krazy it’s ppl like u that make the place messed up. See things hear things and just down play it. U fuck a mango. Wa me wa say me can’t say cause I don’t know you and I still need to have respect. Everyone still has a opinion but it’s sad that you automatically think like this
You know there are many forwards going around on Whatsapp about this and barring any sort of communication from the school or the Ministry I was happy to hear that a teacher saw what was happening and sounded the alarm, but something else came to mind that bothered me…….
There are too many incidents these days of adults approaching children and offering them gift as a means of luring them away, and it makes me wonder what on earth are WE and I say WE as parents are teaching our children.
I have three children and I taught them at an early age NOT TO ACCEPT THINGS FROM PEOPLE THEY DO NOT KNOW! Wolves come in sheep’s clothing. Yes we know that children are naive to the ways of the world but that is why we as parents have to educate them and teach them. Teaching begins at home and we taught boy and girls the same thing. We also taught them to not to talk to strangers. Of course be polite. If someone says good morning, say good morning back as we all should. We also taught them that if they were in uncomfortable situations to get away from it. We taught them to always be aware of their surroundings and where to avoid.
Now don’t get me wrong…we didn’t do this in a fearful way or to instill fear, BUT we TAUGHT them. A child that doesn’t understand danger will not recognize danger when it is facing him or her. Above all, we taught them to TALK TO US. Tell us if something happened that made you uncomfortable whether it be a person or a situation.
Now…I don’t know how long this man was around the children before he was noticed by the teacher, but what would have happened if the teacher was not present? Would the children have had enough training and knowledge to SHOUT, SCREAM, GET AWAY from the person. Would they have had the TRAINING??
The Whatsapp I saw going around spoke to an assembly being called and the student body being spoken to about the dangers and I am happy to hear this, BUT this is to be in conjunction with what parents are already doing. Yes schools are supposed to be a safe place for our children, but we should not depend on the schools to be the sole protector of our children when they are out of the home.
Were these children the ages to have phones? As they were on their breaks, were they allowed to have them and if so why did none of them take a picture of this man or a video? I have seen many school fights were everyone stands back and takes a video of it and encourages the fight rather than stepping in to stop it.
Come on parents!!! These are your children! These are OUR CHILDREN!! Don’t send them out there unprepared. Be your child’s first line of defense in an already changed world. Teach then, talk to them, encourage them to TALK TO YOU.
Criminals are ALWAYS going to be out there, but they don’t have to succeed.
As a parent, I am pleading with you. Don’t send our children out there unprepared.