Social activist Winston Clarke on Saturday called for an end to the “rhetoric”, saying someone must pay for the recent controversial Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) survey given to 733 first-form students without parental consent.
Clarke spoke at a press conference, held on behalf of concerned parents, outside Pelican Village.
He said several parents had come forward over the past few days showing an interest in having legal advice, as many of them felt a class action lawsuit may be necessary to address several of their concerns related to the survey, which came as part of a Computer Science test given to students.
“… it’s enough rhetoric, we are receiving too much rhetoric [with] people asking for answers. We don’t want answers any more … they did it, and somebody must in some way pay for what was done,” he said.
“Sorry is not enough, it’s too late now for that.”
Human rights advocate Felicia Dujon. who also spoke at the press conference, said that parents must become more aware of the rights they hold concerning their children, and must not be afraid to come forward and exercise such rights in the form of legal action if necessary.
“They have the right to hold the Government and all the persons responsible accountable for the injustice that has been done, particularly when we think about children’s rights. We also have to remember that children’s rights must be upheld by all responsible agents, particularly those in [academia] or what we [call] the school environment,” Dujon said.
“For us here today it’s really for us to stand up and say that parents, you have that right. You have the right to come forward, you have the right to seek legal counsel on this matter, particularly if it affected [you], and it has affected a lot of persons within the community.”
Lucinda Alleyne, who described herself as a concerned grandparent, said her grandchildren were all currently in secondary school with one only recently entering first form. Though she said that none of her grandchildren took part in the controversial test, her concern for their rights has moved her to give her support to their cause.
“I believe that as parents and grandparents, we would like to know that when we send school our children, that they are protected, and they have rights also … and to have what is going on thrown at us, I think it’s a violation of their rights.”
Attorney-at-Law Corey Beckles said it was his intention to offer as much legal advice to distraught parents who may seek to bring the matter before the law courts if such a collective decision is reached.
Clarke added that a protest march is being finalised for next week. (SB)
