Smoke forces closure of some schools

Fire disrupted classes at three schools today.

Two St George schools, St Judes Primary School and Cuthbert Moore Primary School, were closed as well as The Lodge School in St John.

In a press statement, the Ministry of Education said the heavy smoke from the fires was impacting the school environs.

The statement also said the ministry will inform the public of the schools’ reopening following the assessment by fire officials and the environmental health team.

Giving an update on the environmental issues impacting St Stephen’s Nursery, first vice president of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) and chairman of the Occupational Safety and Health Committee  Julian Pierre said Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw and District Education Officer Hyacinth Griffith met with staff and their union delegates at the Black Rock, St Michael school on Thursday.

“The chief visited the school to speak with staff regarding the issue of a foul smell on the compound which was sourced to be from a neighbour with a chicken pen behind the school. The chief stated that contact was made to the Principal Environmental Health Officer of the Ministry of Health who said they made contact with the neighbour. Though the foul odour was not strong today, around mid morning there was a strong smell of kerosene around the school,” he said.

Pierre added that he hoped the issue would be resolved soon and that the neighbour would keep the promise to clean the pen on Friday.(SZB)