The suffering children of Biche?

THE EDITOR: The Central Tenders Board is inviting contractors to pre-qualify for constructing 21 primary schools; and Minister Manning’s ministry has announced other school building projects. But alas, it seems the PNM is reverting to the “money is no problem” era. The $35 million Biche Secondary School still remains empty while the children of Biche continue their daily and painful trek to Sangre Grande, Rio Claro or even to Mayaro. Come on Hazel . . . please have a heart. For God’s sake, make a decision and open the Biche school.

Speaking recently to a senior minister with some knowledge of the geology of the Biche area, he pooh-poohs the “gas emission” tales as baseless, and all but admitted that the Biche school has become a political football. The security men on 24-hour duty have failed to detect or observe any “gas emissions,” but there is another fallout from the elusive and undocumented “gas emissions.” The Presbyterian primary school in Biche stands adjacent to the secondary school, and for all of 80 years, three generations of Biche residents never had any concerns about “gas emissions.” But when the “gas emission” red herring surfaced, the hysteria spread to the primary school. With encouragement from some TTUTA officials, staff started smelling “noxious odours,” causing many teachers to stay away and classes were suspended.

With the school closed by “gas emissions,” the Presbyterian School Board opted to transfer the children “temporarily” to a new school in Cushe about four miles away, and which had ample accommodation. Biche children of tender ages 5 to 10, now travel daily to Cushe for their primary education. Talk about child abuse! Not only is the Biche community deprived of its $35 million and long anticipated secondary school, but sadly, it has lost its Presbyterian primary school. The Presbyterian Board’s efforts to re-open its school in Biche have been frustrated because officials have callously locked the two schools together in a game of political football.

MICHAEL J WILLIAMS
Maracas Valley, Trinidad