Students stay home as parents protest lack of security

CLASSROOMS at the Bien Venue Presbyterian School, La Plaisance Road, La Romain were empty yesterday as parents kept their children home for the day and also protested outside the school calling for the implementation of round the clock security at the school compound.

Speaking to Newsday, president of the schools’ Parent Teachers Asso-ciation Anthony Roop-narinesingh said over the past few years there had been constant vandalising and theft of the school’s property. “Recently there was an incident where an intoxicated man stormed onto the compound and began cursing in front of students,” Roopnarine-singh said. “This is just inappropriate. The children and teachers’ safety are in jeopardy.” Roopnarine-singh said there were recent attempts to have the matter resolved, but all to no avail. “Although letters were sent on a continuous basis since last year to the Ministry of Education and Education Minister Hazel Manning, up to the present date there have been no assurances as to our pleas being heard or addressed.”

Disgruntled PTA Trustee Moses Noor said, “There has to be an immediate action with regards to security at the school because the children are now being exposed to drugs, which are found on the compound.” Noor said there was an incident recently, where students found a package of marijuana with an estimated street value of $1,200 on the school compound. Both Roopnarinesingh and Noor are again urging the Ministry to take the necessary actions to solve the matter immediately. Noor said, “Protest action began yesterday and will continue until the situation is improved.” Efforts to reach Education Minister Hazel Manning for a comment yesterday proved futile.