THE family of 17-year-old Zwade Alleyne, who remains in critical condition at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, is calling on the nation for continued prayers and collective compassion.
Alleyne was struck in the head by a stray bullet on May 10 while standing just outside his home in Building 12, Maloney Gardens. As he fights for his life in the Intensive Care Unit, his family clings to hope and faith, believing in the possibility of a miracle.
Speaking to Newsday via phone on May 14, Alleyne’s uncle and coach, Keron Bethelmy, shared the family's unwavering belief in divine intervention. Bethelmy, a clergyman, said, “All the family needs is a miracle. We are trusting in God.”
He noted Alleyne’s condition remains unchanged, with the family awaiting a final brain scan to determine neurological activity.
“We’re trying to see if the brain can respond,” he explained.
Despite the uncertainty, Bethelmy remained resolute in his faith, emphasising the spiritual strength the family draws from scripture and community support.
“We are standing firm on God's word. Our strength comes from our trust in Him. Amen to that.”
He said the family has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from across the country and beyond. Alleyne’s friends, schoolmates, and club teammates have shown solidarity, while messages of encouragement have poured in from around the world via WhatsApp and social media.
As part of a communal show of faith and peace, the family is organising a public Prayer and Peace Walk on May 18, beginning at the Arima Velodrome.
“Zwade's school, friends, and club teammates have all been sending love. Outside of his immediate community, people from all walks of life are showing support,” Bethelmy said.
Asked if the family needed anything beyond prayers, Bethelmy said, “Just prayers.”
Turning to those responsible for the shooting, Bethelmy offered a message of redemption urging them to: “Please, turn your life to God. Only He can save you.”
Psychologist: Repeated violence affects children's development
Clinical psychologist Victoria Siewnarine-Geelalsingh, in an interview with Newsday, warned of the long-term consequences of repeated exposure to violence, particularly during critical stages of brain development.
She said the tragedy surrounding Alleyne underscores a deeper societal crisis – the psychological and developmental toll of sustained violence on the nation’s youth.
She explained such trauma can dysregulate a child’s emotional control systems, leading to behaviours often misdiagnosed as ADHD when they are trauma responses, manifesting as emotional volatility, difficulty concentrating, or inconsistent school performance.
“The brain’s plasticity in youth means early therapeutic responses can significantly reduce the impact of trauma,” she said.
Evidence-based strategies such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy, school-based emotional regulation programmes, and community interventions are most effective within the first month after trauma exposure
