Roseau Primary School parents worried

The Roseau Primary School
The Roseau Primary School

Parents who have students attending the Roseau Primary School are expressing serious concerns over the state of the institution following a recent spate of illness there.

Dominica News Online paid a visit to the school on Monday to feel and experience first- hand what the mood was like, after students there were forced to remain home last week.

There were the usual students running around screaming, eating, socializing and full of energy. After all, they are just children.

But the parents who huddled together had more grave matters on their minds.

They quietly discussed whether they should send their children to school in what appeared to be an unsafe environment or keep them at home.

One parent, who spoke to DNO, said her son has already missed an entire week of school, “all they talking about is trying to catch up on school work, but I don’t feel like sending my child there tomorrow.”

She noted that she works from home and sells products at the market, but she prefer to home-school her son, just to make sure he is safe.

“I am worried,” she said.

Another, who is a teacher at another school, said that unless she receives “solid word” that all is well she would not be sending her child to the school.

Senior Environmental Health Officer Sylvester St. Ville, who was on site at the time said the Ministry of Health is still conducting investigations.

“The department has conducted an investigation and we still continue to conduct investigations,” he said. “For example as I’m here now, continuing the investigation, we have submitted all reports to the relevant authorities, the department acts as advisor as it relates to the incident with the school. We can confirm that it is not asbestos, because it is not plausible for asbestos to cause those symptoms.”

On Monday official declared the problem at the school was caused by mold.

The Principal, Greta Roberts, refused to comment on the matter, and referred questions to her superiors in the Ministry of Education.

All attempts to contact the Minister for Education, Petter St. Jean, Permanent Secretary Marcella Powell, or the Chief Education Officer Melina Fontaine were unsuccessful.

 

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

14 Comments

  1. Hans
    February 4, 2014

    These people are only concerned about getting back in power. So they run go demolish the building next door without proper safety procedures. After taking prisoners to demolish a Asbestos contaminated building the white man that told them he was bringing a computer assembling company in Dominica – the man turn out to be a big time con man. The white man refer to those cabinet desperados as ” Boys With Toys”
    Now they were hoping to boost their election propaganda by announcing that a computer company was going to be set up at the location of the demolished building.
    Allah the boyz with toys really desperate.

  2. Observer
    February 4, 2014

    WIth my training in HAZMAT, I am a little surprise that the building was hose down by fire service, without knowing for sure what was the root cause. Whatever it is may just be washed off to another location. Sometimes these things are not always easy to verify. There could be many different particles in the air that have to be evaluated, and then they have to figure out which one(s) that is/are causing the problem. Could it be something buried in the ground that is now getting exposed? Could it be in the wall of the building? There are so many possibilities that it could take a while before a conclusion can be made. However, if a serious problem is definitely detected, first thing is to seal off that area to the public (an exclusion zone). ie seal of the suspected contaminated area, and only allow people with the appropriated personal protective equipment(PPE), then collect samples (air samples, soil, etc etc, in proper containers). There should also be a decontamination area where the people that went to the contaminated zone is cleaned out (don’t want them carrying it to another location). Finally, send up samples to lab for testing, and also perform medical surveillance on the sick as well as those who were not sick. It takes time my people – but I think the authorities need to communicate the progress of what steps are being taken to address the problem. There should be a designated spokes person for the authorities for obvious reasons. I do hope that the problem is resolved soon.

  3. anonymous
    February 4, 2014

    If I was a mother he or she would be home with me, just until I believe it is safe to go back. This can cause death. Ministry of health cannot give you back your kids. Please parents be warned..

  4. I TOLD YOU
    February 4, 2014

    The parents are worried but the Minister is not.
    Parents, Form a delegation and go to the Minister for answers….. For your children’s sake.
    Good Luck

  5. My Boy
    February 4, 2014

    If a white man would say its ok, only then they would go.

    • ah ha
      February 4, 2014

      exactly my point… The more things change, the more they remain the same

  6. Sensible Dominican
    February 4, 2014

    Does Dominica has a lab to test for asbestos?

  7. Quicaeyea
    February 4, 2014

    Please people, children being sick is not UWP or Labour. Any government has the responsibility to protect the children and the employees. Parents be wise and make your own judgement call. Personally, my idea is to keep your children at home until “all is clear”. Thanks

    • zulo
      February 5, 2014

      so true

  8. February 4, 2014

    It’s a crying shame that the ministry of health is not taking this problem seriously this could have a life time effect on these children these are our children come already

  9. ah ha
    February 4, 2014

    You did get solid word but not from the people you wanted… you guys got the information you wanted from the roadside experts on Facebook and DNO.

    So until someone on your FB or DNO expert bloggers on everything say so, keep your child at home!!

    smh… You people really think that the MInistry of education etc does not have the safety of an entire school of children and teachers in mind…. That only normal citizens would show concern?

    You people love bad news, panic and problems, our expertise are never enough, you need an expert more expert than a Dominican to tell you everything!

  10. 4CARS
    February 4, 2014

    DNO paid a visit at the School to have a little more to write about. That’s very good. What about Government Ministers? No show for sure. They already know that they don’t stand the slightest chance in the next election; so they are showing their “true colors.” I hope UWP wins by a landslide. Now is the time for the UWP to take to the airwaves to capitalize on that careless issue which is being (once again) demonstrated by this Sker-ratt government.

    • Osanna Mowanga
      February 4, 2014

      parents, for the health of your children, please keep them home until you are sure the school is safe.

    • wild bill
      February 5, 2014

      I really hope UWP win so that for the next five years the blame game will continue and for things to get HARDER in dominica so all will SUFFER.

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available