Kamla: Hazel was too slow

EDUCATION MINISTER Hazel Manning did not move swiftly enough to ensure that 12-year-old Kalifa Logan was spared unnecessary psychological trauma as a result of being denied entry into St Charles High School because of her dreadlocks. This was the charge levelled by Manning’s predecessor, Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Persad-Bissessar said while she was happy to learn of Roman Catholic Archbishop Edward Gilbert’s decision to allow Kalifa to attend St Charles if she so desired, she found how Manning handled the entire affair “most disturbing.”

Recalling a similar incident when she was Education Minister, Persad-Bissessar said Manning should have met immediately with the involved parties and sought to find a swift and amicable resolution to Kalifa’s situation. The UNC MP argued that the situation should not have been allowed to reach this stage and expressed concern for the Kalifa’s psychological well-being. On Tuesday, Manning said the decision to transfer Kalifa from St Charles to the Five Rivers Junior Secondary School may have been a mistake and “we (Education Ministry) will continue our negotiations until it is sorted out.”

Manning gave the assurance that Kalifa will not be denied her right to an education. Persad-Bissessar said Kalifa’s situation was “not resolved” since she has now expressed a desire to attend the El Dorado Secondary School instead of St Charles.  She expressed her fervent hope that the national spotlight will soon be removed from Kalifa so she would be able to attend school and return to a normal life.