Schools still face more gang trouble

Hon Kurt Tibbetts Leader of Government Business	Hon Alden McLaughlin Minister of Education	Hon Charles Clifford,  Minister of Tourism	Hon Arden McLean,  Minister of Communications

Tuesday,  January 24, 2006

Four students have been suspended from John Gray High School because they were caught involved in the painting of gang-related graffiti, according to Education Minister, Hon Alden McLaughlin, who said that since the beginning of the school term, there have been “four instances of gang-related graffiti” at the School and he added that he would chair the Committee on Discipline and Security.”

“The four students involved have all been caught and have been suspended,” and revealed that one of the graffiti read, “West Bay Cyrpps,” Mr McLaughlin explained at the weekly Media Briefing by Cabinet Members on 20 January.

He also reported an “even more serious incident” at John Gray on 19 January in which the police are involved.

Mr McLaughlin said a knife was found on 14-year-old student who was searched by a Security Guard. The student was then charged with Resisting Arrest and Possession of an Offensive Weapon.

Mr McLaughlin added that this student was already on a “behaviour contract” at the school and now the child is now in breach of that contract.

The Minister also said there was another grave incident at George Hicks during the week of 15 January, in which the Police are now involved.

He added that he could not go into details but the incident involved two girls at the school. The name of the “Bloods Gang” again surfaced in relation to the incident and the Minister said there appeared to be connections with children at John Gray.”

“The two have been suspended, one for bullying and the other for knowing about the bullying and encouraging it.”

Mr McLaughlin could not confirm the period for which students had been suspended but noted that children in Government Schools could not be expelled before age 16.

He also announced that, based on consensus within the Ministry, “I have decided to chair the Committee on Discipline and Security.”

Mr McLaughlin also spoke on a more positive note about the recent World Education Seminar in the UK on using Information Communications Technology (ICT) and the resulting upcoming visit of UK Consultant Stephen Heppell - who is to make an input in the design of new schools.

Headlining the report from the Leader of Government Business, Hon Kurt Tibbetts, was the recent arrival of a “large shipment of prime pure-bred livestock” including 85 goats and 46 head of cattle to help 41 farmers.

He said he was “extremely encouraged” by what he saw happening with farming, especially from the results of the Ministry’s Feeding Assistance Programme.

He acknowledged that one fact that has helped the farmers is that all supermarkets are now “buying local carcasses wholesale and putting them regularly on supermarket shelves.” 

He was also pleased about the involvement of “younger people and professionals in agriculture” because that “brings technological advances into the sector.”

In relation to the Slaughter House he said that there were funds in the budget to reopen it even though he did not know when. Mr Tibbetts said that more training had to be done for workers to “ensure that everything is right with it and there is no risk of a health hazard.”

About the Planning Department he acknowledged that there were still problems with the backlog of approvals and that the hiring of the nine additional personnel was taking a little longer than expected.

“We are due to have another meeting and my aim is to have as many staff as possible on board and have them gelling (already together)” to be sure that the problem is really one to do with staff.

Tourism Minister, Hon Charles Clifford, said that during the week of 23 January he would be in New York attending internal Department of Tourism meetings.

He also announced that his Ministry was seeking nominations from each District for the Tourism Ambassadors programme. 

Hon Arden McLean, Minister of Communications, Works and Infrastructure said that the invitation to tender for the transportation of the debris ash from various sites around the Island would close on 27 January.

He clarified that while the ash is being transported, during low traffic hours, all Emergency Services would be on standby.

He also announced that work on the George Town Police Station started last weekend and the East End and North Side Stations are now ready.

He also said that proposals for the new Savannah Post Office were now being reviewed.

On the Esterly Tibbetts Highway he said work has accelerated; there is ongoing dialogue with homeowners at Governor’s Harbour; Michael Ryan has confirmed that he would proceed with the Ritz-Carlton section of the road, starting in six months; the entire road to Indies Suites would be gazetted shortly and costs would be presented to Cabinet on Tuesday 23 January.

   Back...