Published 22 March 2018
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
by: Media Source
Increased gang fights in schools lead to discussion ‘ Richards, Hodge have lost control’
Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 21, 2018 – Reports of an escalation of gang fights at the Basseterre High School and the Charles E. Mills Secondary School have led to serious discussion that Minister of Education, Hon. Shawn Richards and his Permanent Secretary, Mr. Vincent Hodge have lost control of educational institutions on St. Kitts and presence of Neals Chitan has not shown the expected positive results.
There are reports Wednesday of a gang fight at the Charles E. Mills Secondary School in Sandy Point, which resulted in a male student losing his front teeth.
Previous report that a gun was brandished in the altercation has been dismissed as what was really observed was a police officer holding a firearm. Observers thought the gun was being seized by the officer.
On the weekend, well-placed sources disclosed that some 20 gang-related fights have taken place at the new Basseterre High School at Taylors.
The school was on lockdown last Thursday after the third consecutive day of gang fights.
“It is evident that Minister Hon. Shawn Richards and his Permanent Secretary Mr. (Vincent) Hodge have lost control of these institutions,” said a parent on Tuesday.
“This government has been wasting our scarce resources since taking office. Closing the old site, building a temporary school and this so-called new BHS, all a total waste of taxpayers’ money in light of the reports that said all that was needed was the completion of the remedial works,” he said.
“The government is paying Dr. Neals Chitan hundreds of thousands of dollars as a consultant and it seems as if things are getting worst under him,” a parent said. Chitan is an international skills consultant and crime reduction specialist,
“The gangs have crept back into the schools since this government has taken office and is escalating even with the hiring of the consultant and his wife, who is also on the payroll. We are not seeing the results,” a female teacher admitted.
“There are cameras on the school premises which should act as a deterrent, but the children just do not care” she said.
Photo1 – Hon. Shawn Richards
Photo 2 – Mr. Vincent Hodge
Photo 3 – Dr. Neals Chitan
