Classes to resume at Grange Hill Primary, High schools – ACP Chambers
JTA concerned about impact of the violence
FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES will resume at Grange Hill Primary and Grange Hill High schools in Westmoreland today.
The assurance was given yesterday evening by Head of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Area One, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Clifford Chambers, stating in a release through its Corporate Communications Unit that, “Schools in the Grange Hill community are set to reopen tomorrow (today), thanks to decisive action taken by local police and military forces”.
Shortly after classes started at the two schools on Tuesday morning, educators were thrown into panic mode after reports surfaced that the gangsters, who the police have blamed for a spate of recent murders in the community, were planning to shoot up one of the schools.
Classes were promptly dismissed, and the students sent home.
Yesterday morning, Trevine Donaldson -Lawrence, the principal of Grange Hill High School, had stated that, “We are again doing online classes today as we are awaiting clearance from the Ministry of Education and the police as to when we should resume regular school. If we get the go-ahead, we could resume as early as tomorrow (today).”
That go-ahead later came from Chambers, who explained that, “In response to the fear of crime, violence, and gang activities, we have launched several initiatives with the support of the military. This includes enforcing a curfew and conducting road policing efforts.”
Chambers stated that this intervention is long term and includes various strategies.
“We have been in the space from morning (yesterday), moving around the various communities that are affected and having discussions with community members. We are getting very, very good support,” ACP Chambers explained, adding that the Westmoreland Police, headed by SSP Wayne Joseph intends to work closely with all stakeholders, i ncluding l ocal schools, community l eaders, and residents, to ensure that the peace and safety restored through recent interventions are maintained.
“We’ve also been i n close communication with the principals of both Grange Hill Primary and Grange Hill High School,” Chambers shared, underscoring the importance of education and the readiness to resume school activities safely.
The fragile peace in the volatile Grange Hill community was disrupted last Saturday when three men were shot and killed gangland-style in the ongoing feud between the notorious King Valley Gang and the emerging Ants Posse Gang, who are said to be fighting over the spoils of criminal activities.
On Monday, the security forces mounted a massive response to the violence, rushing in significant assets, which included members of the military, additional police officers, and aerial surveillance.
While the security forces were moving in on Monday, the gangsters struck, killing motorbike repairman Norman ‘Shortman’ Backriddan in broad daylight in the vicinity of Belle Isle Road in the community.
Concerned about the perilous situation in Grange Hill and its impact on the education sector, the Jamaica Teachers’ Association, through its president, Leighton Johnson, issued a statement on Tuesday, calling for both the Ministry of National Security and the Ministry of Education to put measures in place to ensure the safety of teachers and students.
Johnson further noted that the instability caused by the violence has implications on upcoming external examinations, which both the primary and high school students are preparing for at this time.
“Students at the primary level, grade-six students to be exact, are preparing for the PEP (Primary Exit Profile) performance task, which will take place on March 20 and 21. We also know that mock exams for City and Guild are to be completed between this week and next week at the secondary level,” Johnson noted.