Trauma of students caught up in recent bomb threats needs to be addressed

Dear Editor,

Over the past weeks, we have seen an increasingly alarming trend in Guyana. What started out as a violent threat on social media directed at The School of The Nations, quickly escalated into the shooting and wounding of Principal of the said school Dr. O’Toole, forcing the school to close for one week. Subsequently, came threats at Queen’s College, Bishops’ High and Mae’s. As well there were two bomb threats to The University of Guyana in two days, suspending classes for both days, and another bomb threat at the office of the Ombudsman.

Against this background The Caribbean Voice (TCV) is somewhat concerned that the Guyana Police Force sees ‘no significant threat from warnings to various educational institutions’. What about the children? Surely the police are not simply dismissing the mental health fallout?

For one a sense of security is lost. School is the second home for our children and they no longer feel safe. The trauma is real and widespread because students are not psychologi- cally prepared. They are fearful. They are confused. Some are discouraged and have become demotivated. Many have had sleepless nights and those that sleep have nightmares. Parents and students are of the view that not enough has been done since then to assist them to return to a sense of normalcy. TCV is aware of all of this because we have been talking to parents and students.

A holistic approach is required to ensure that students not only heal but also that schools are prepared to proactively deal with issues of this nature. The Caribbean Voice is happy that the Mobile Mental Health Unit of the Ministry of Education was deployed but was the service offered to all the schools affected? Will there be follow-ups to ensure that individual students who remain traumatised are offered counseling therapy? Going forward, will entire student bodies be provided with coping skills and mechanisms? Will schools nationwide be trained to respond to such threats through regular drills that focus on strategies like soft and hard lockdowns and evacuation procedures? Will police be armed with the capacity for rapid

GECOM that it needed to begin preparations to meet the deadline for elections. This was not done and has still not been done 65 days following the passage of the motion. The upshot of the government’s irresponsible behaviour is that the three-month period for elections will elapse without a final ruling by the courts. This cavalier treatment of the constitution will then force the APNU+AFC government to take the initiative to preserve constitutional rule. That initiative will entail seeking an honourable settlement with the opposition on the terms of an extension of time for elections. Constitutional experts will first have to establish several things. If the three-month period expires without elections or an agreement for an extension what becomes of the government? If three months elapses without an extension, can the deadline be enlarged after the expiration or this can only be done before the end of the specified period? The APNU+AFC government must begin a careful consideration of these questions. It is clear to the public that thus far, the APNU+AFC government is prepared to put the legitimacy of the country’s government in question for the sole purpose of extending its life in office by any means possible. As has been stated in various quarters, the government also seems prepared to risk Guyana’s international standing as a constitutional democracy, its ability to be recognised as a viable party to internationally drawn contracts and agreements, its standing as an investment destination and the smooth running of the country’s political, social and economic life. Such intransigence is the lot of power-obsessed politicians who have no qualms about renting the fabric of national cohesiveness for purely partisan gains. Another feature of the regressive behaviour of the APNU+AFC government is the cranking up of the machinery of elections handouts to communities in all parts of the country and other questionable acts. It would be heart-warming if on a regular basis 19 ministers sweep into the Rupununi or any other part of the country to deliver better gover-

response nationwide?

For years TCV has been calling for counselors in schools to assist students to better cope with whatever challenges they face on a daily basis, in and out of school. Such placement has become even more urgent now. As well The Caribbean Voice again offers our youth and student workshop to the Ministry of Education. At previous meetings with Ministry officials, promises were made to integrate our workshop into the Health & Family Life Curriculum. We are still awaiting fulfillment of this promise.

Finally, the Ministry of Education should mandate all schools to set up Threat Response Teams comprising parents, staff and other related personnel that should be trained to quickly act in such eventualities. At least one school affected by the recent threats has already done so. The global village has now encompassed Guyana in its unsavoury fold and our nation must not find itself wanting in its responsibility to protect our children every which way.

Yours faithfully, Annan Boodram The Caribbean Voice

nance. While last week’s visit to the south of Guyana was no doubt intended to achieve better governance, many parts of it constituted an unabashed attempt to mobilise votes by the handing out of what amounted to knickknacks and the making of a variety of promises. The handouts are not the only carve-up calling into question transparent governance. In recent weeks, there have been other troubling signs. Aside from a surge in the advertising of state contracts, there was a sudden, massive hike in thresholds for restricted tendering where such contracts are not advertised. While it has been argued that new ceilings had been agreed earlier, the timing is suspect and could lead to the channeling of contracts to certain individuals. If any such contracts are invited, the relevant information must be published in good time on the website of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board for public inspection. Important initiatives such as a broadcast licence for Linden which had been held up for years as a result of bickering in the region has now magically been cleared and one expects many more instances of this in the days ahead. The announcement of this development was made by the Minister of State instead of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority – another example of government overreach. As Executive President, it remains the case that President Granger is ultimately responsible for violations of the constitution committed by his administration and the country awaits decisive action on his part to be in full compliance and to ensure that after three months from December 21, 2018 there is no doubt about the legitimacy of the government.