Fix the school!

Garcia made the comments yesterday afternoon following a private meeting held next to the school with government officials, staff and a part of a group of parents.

“There might be minor works to be done and I have instructed the EFCL to invoke emergency procedures so whatever needs to be done, will be done with the emergency it requires. These are things like cleaning and painting,” Garcia told media personnel.

The facility will first accommodate the Standard Fours and Fives on Tuesday and then the rest by December 2 , the Minister assured.

The issue of transportation to and from the new temporary location “will be dealt with” for all of the 248 students.

Santa Flora Government Primary School is the alma mater of President Anthony Carmona.

On arrival at the school yesterday, the Minister together with other officials were greeted by protesting parents and students holding placards at the front gates to the school’s compound. Some of the signs read, “ Rats, bats and snakes Infestation”, “ No Mr Garcia show some respect” and “ We want we school right now”.

Angry parents began accusing the Minister, and by extension the Government, of ignoring their plights.

Garcia together with Minister of State in the Ministry of Education Dr Lovell Francis, Member of Parliament for the area, Nicole Olivierre, and other officials first held a private meeting.

More than an hour later, officials invited the protesting parents inside but a group of them refused to attend on the basis that they wanted the media to sit in so as to broadcast what was said.

While some went to the meeting held next door at the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) , others remained outside .

As the Minister emerged from the meeting, parents accused him of being “disrespectful” and “running away” by not speaking to them. As he walked past the angry group, Garcia in turn accused them of being disrespectful and abusive to him. The Minister insisted that they had the opportunity to speak with him at the meeting but they refused to attend.

One parent - Michael Nemaiquestioned the “timing” of the visit insisting that it was nothing more than a political ploy to gainvotes in Monday’s local government election.

Speaking to media personnel, Garcia maintained that the purpose of the visit was to ensure that the children are aqequately housed “so that learning and teaching can take place in an environment that is peaceful.

He also described the Petrotrin representatives as “kind and gracious” .

Next door to the existing school structure is the ongoing construction of a new school.However, works are being delayed as contractors await outstanding payments.

The Minister confirmed that contractors are not paid and he promised “to sit down and discuss” that issue so as to pay them.

“ I cannot state when they will be paid or when work will resume,” Garcia added.

PTA president Sarah Gopaul admitted that the association was not initailly pleased with the response by the Ministry as he had taken “ too long “ to respond to their plights.

“ It is nine weeks and they (officials) are tellling us that we, the parents, have shut down the school. No. Our children’s satfey is of utmost importance and we are not playing politics with our children welfare,” Gopaul added.

She complained that the floors are moving away from the walls, the roof is falling apart and the steel is “turning into power”. That, Gopaul charged, is not a conducive environment for children.

Thus far, the parents said they are satisfied with the temporary solution and hope for a permanent solution.

Parents Nicoli Rampersad said she has been home-schooling her daughter ,Jan?a, five, since September.

However, the child is anxious to attend classes and interact with teachers and classmates.

Another parent added, “My son, Malachi Bacchus, is a bright student.

He was the valedictorian in his pre-school. Malachi is missing his friends and teachers.”