Schools affected by odour; break-in

Environmental concerns and breaking and entering disrupted classes at two schools on Monday.

While classes continued at St Giles Primary following police investigations into the building breaking, Grantley Adams Memorial School was closed for the remainder of the day.

Barbados TODAY’s efforts to reach Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw proved futile, however President of the Barbados Union of Teachers Rudy Lovell confirmed reports regarding the issues at the two institutions.

Lovell said that at Grantley Adams, investigations are being carried out to determine the source of a strong odour emanating from the second form block.

“As soon as that information is provided you will be updated,” Lovell said.

The president added that teachers at St Giles Primary indicated that when they turned up for school, they discovered that there had been a break-in sometime between Friday evening and Monday morning.

Lovell said that as police continue the investigations, the BUT is concerned about the safety and security of the students and staff at that institution. He said that a clear message should be sent that breaking into and vandalising schools will not be accepted or tolerated.

“We would hope that these issues become a thing of the past where persons believe that schools are places, they can break in and garner property. There is nothing at a school to be stolen apart from books, papers, pens and desks. We would hope that this is the last occurrence of this nature happening in our schools,” Lovell said. (AH)