Barbados Today

PORT OF SPAIN –– Parents are renewing their call for Government to fix the railings of the Fifth Company Baptist Primary school, after a Standard Two pupil fell over it last week, fracturing his skull.

School officials said Tisean Alexis, eight, was sliding down the railings around midday last Wednesday when he fell. However, his mother Curlanne Charleau claims her son was pushed.

Alexis, who lives in St Mary’s Village, Moruga, remains warded at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex at Mt Hope. He suffered cuts on his face and a fracture to the left side of his skull.

In an interview with the T&T Guardian, Charleau said she wanted a full report into how the incident occurred.

“Last Wednesday he was sliding down the railing at the Fifth Company Baptist school when he was pushed over,” Charleau claimed.

“He does not know who pushed him. He fell about 15 feet and fractured his skull. The bones on his forehead crack. He had bruises and cuts about his face. He was unconscious between two to six hours.”

She explained that Alexis was initially taken to the San Fernando General Hospital.

“His left eye was swollen and his jaw bone was swollen, on the left side,” Charleau added.

Although her son was initially discharged, Charleau said she had to take him back to the SFGH after he began experiencing dizziness and excruciating pain. He was then given a letter to go to the EWMSC where a CT scan was done.

Since the incident, members of the school’s PTA have renewed their call for the Government to fix the deplorable conditions at the school. A parent who requested anonymity said since their last round of protests, only the broken gates have been fixed.

“We predicting that a child will fall over those railings long time. The railings are only three feet high so it is easy for them to fall over. The school also has an electrical problem and it seems our cries for better safety at the school are falling on deaf ears,” the parent added.

Contacted yesterday, MP for Tableland/Moruga and Minister in the Ministry of Education Dr Lovell Francis said Alexis’ incident was not an issue of safety but was one of poor supervision.

“That child should have been better supervised. I am aware that he fell close to the cafeteria. He was skating on the railing. It was not a case where he fell over a broken railing,” Francis said.

Told that the railings were only three feet high, Francis said the Government will look into the issue. He said most of the planned infrastructural work will be done over the August vacation.

“Over the Easter vacation we fixed the gates but we will speak to the principal and get some more information about what further work could be done before the full maintenance begins,” Francis added.