abuse at Prospect Primary School, an infuriated aunt insisted on a meeting with Chief Education Officer Joseph Christopher.

Teonnae Hassell told The Royal Gazette that her eight-year-old nephew, Touriqco, was physically abused by a teacher right before her eyes back in April during his school sports day.

Over a month after the disturbing incident, and after denying he had done anything wrong, the teacher apologised and admitted full responsibility to the angry aunt in a meeting called by the Chief Education Officer for Tuesday.

Remembering the incident Ms Hassell said, "I witnessed a man approach my nephew and start to hit him repeatedly across the sides of his legs for no apparent reason.'' "My nephew was hit approximately five to six times before falling to the ground,'' she added. "He was then grabbed by the neck and flung to the ground again.'' Ms Hassell explained that another parent came to her aid in comforting her nephew.

"This lack of self control was witnessed by a parent who assisted me in calming the hysterical child down, by hugging and praying over him,'' she said.

"I almost immediately called Dr. Christopher and reported the incident to him. It was no more than five minutes after it had happened.'' Ms Hassell also complained about the head teacher's handling of the affair, claiming that the principal had spoken to her "in a condescending manner'' and had said "things like that don't happen at our school''.

Not pleased with the manner in which the report was dealt with initially, Ms Hassell, in receipt of a letter from the Ministry earlier this week, said she was irate.

"They denied that it took place,'' she said. "They said he was simply spanked twice for being defiant. But I saw this myself. I was right there and I know what I saw.'' "I would not make an issue out of this if my nephew had been misbehaving or rude, but he was not. I saw the whole thing and so did many other children.'' In his letter to Ms Hassell, Dr. Christopher included statements from the principal and the accused teacher and noted that they were "at variance'' with hers.

He also offered to arrange a joint meeting with all the parties. Ms Hassell said, that it wasn't until that meeting that she felt some semblance of relief.