Sandys Secondary principal Melvyn Bassett has accused authorities of dragging their feet on an assault against him.

Mr. Bassett -- who was punched by a student last summer during the school's graduation ceremony -- spoke out yesterday after learning that a Warwick Secondary teacher had been attacked by a student.

"I think we're all responsible for what happened at Warwick Secondary,'' he told The Royal Gazette .

Former Sandys student Kiwon Butterfield punched Mr. Bassett -- in front of a room full of parents, teachers, and relatives of Sandys Secondary graduates -- after his name was not called during a graduation ball at Sonesta Beach Hotel on June 29.

Mr. Bassett said he and the student's mother, Debbie Butterfield, had agreed Mr. Butterfield would only be allowed to take part in the ceremony if he had his dreadlocks covered.

But Mr. Butterfield showed up at the ball with his dreadlocks uncovered.

His mother lodged a formal complaint with the Human Rights Commission.

But yesterday Mr. Bassett said it was unfortunate that the violent act against him was confused with the Rastafarian issue.

"I think the incident at Warwick Secondary is related because the message has not been received from young people,'' he added, "or maybe they have received the wrong message.

"This community, particularly Police and the courts, have to have a zero tolerance for this behaviour.

Mr. Bassett said days after the incident at Sonesta he called Police from New York where he was attending a conference.

And he lodged an official complaint during the second week of July. "It's now March,'' Mr. Bassett pointed out. "And I have not even had the courtesy of a phone call since I spoke with Insp. (Stephen) Shaw to pursue the matter myself.'' EDUCATION ED