Break-ins, vandalism rock Sineku Primary School

Students at the Sinekou Primary School
Students at the Sinekou Primary School

Parents of students attending the Sineku Primary School in the Kalinago Territory have taken the decision to keep their children at home following a series of vandalism and break-ins at the institution.

The decision was taken at an emergency PTA meeting held at the school on Tuesday.

A source, who is close to the matter and who prefers to remain anonymous, said the school has been the object of vandals through the years but the latest attack on the weekend was essentially the straw which broke the camel’s back.

“On Sunday the school was vandalized again,” the source stated. “During the day some classrooms were broken into, the louvers in some of the classrooms were mashed up and some of them removed.”

The source noted that nothing was stolen and said the actions of the perpetrators are nothing but ‘malicious.’

“Over the years there have been break-ins and all that kinds of nonsense have been going on,” the source noted. “It’s too much and more than ridiculous. And the parents decided enough is enough.”

But burglaries, break-ins and vandalism are not the only problem plaguing the school.

“There are a lot of issues, the plumbing is not good and the electrical is not good, the children are drinking water from a tank that has been there for many years …it hasn’t been cleaned for more than 10 years,” the source said.

The source stated the Ministry of Education is aware of the situation at the school since a letter was sent in January seeking an audience with Chief Education Officer Melena Fontaine. However, there has been no response, according to the source.

During the emergency meeting on Tuesday, a letter was drafted to be delivered to Fontaine and so far 53 parents have signed it. The letter, which is expected to be delivered on Tuesday afternoon, is demanding a meeting with education officials on Thursday morning at 9:00 am.

Invitations to the meeting are also being sent to MP Ashton Graneau, Kalinago Chief Garnette Joseph and the Education Officer for the East.

DNO made several attempts to contact Fontaine on the matter, but all proved futile.

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29 Comments

  1. Kalinago
    May 14, 2014

    Not too bad; we have a Ministry of Carib Affairs that functions on grubs from the P M Office, we are fooled for so long but because some people looking for political appointments they are blinded by the fact that the kalinago people are taken for a ride and do not have a ministry but a political propaganda machine, yet we love our P M all the teachers are labourites, they have just stated that both schools are under performing, the government in turn employs people who do not met the required pre-requisite for enter the public service simply because they are looking for votes and the generation of kalinago people getting substandard service are we too blind to see that or is there too much selfishness in this small indigenous community.

  2. wayyy
    May 14, 2014

    close down sineku school closes down close down! when sineku school close down I want to know where salybia school goin to accommodate all those children if is on d court..u Dominicans jus yap yap yap not knowin anyting at al

  3. PTA next door
    May 14, 2014

    The Sinecou school MUST be closed and allow the children to attend the Salybia school which has more than ample space. Both schools have just over one hundred students collectively. It makes no sense to have a school like the newly built Salybia school with only a few students.

    In addition, there is a school bus service in place so that is as easy as 1,2,3!

    Finally, both schools are under performing anyway!!!

  4. Alicia
    May 14, 2014

    The powers that be have to do something about this! It is beyond a crucial point! The school has to be secured properly to prevent any further break-ins! If it means that the kids have to be bussed to another school until the work on this school is completed, then that’s what should be done! With reference to the tank from whupich the kids are drinking, I can’t believe that this has gone on for so long! These are you children, parents! That’s how kids get sick, with all that bacteria on the inside of the tank! It may not show up now, but later in life, they may contract some other unnamed desease and you wonder what caused it! The Parliamentary Rep is responsible for making sure that these things. Faulty electricity! Supposing some kids had gotten electrocuted, they would then rush to fix the problem at the expense of a child’s life! Whoever is responsible needs to step up to the plate! You can’t treat human beings that way! And parents, we’ve got to be more on top of things! Just because whoever says that they’ll try, we’ve got to be on their backs! Every day if we have to!

  5. Kalinago
    May 14, 2014

    Personally, I think that the Sineku Primary school should be closed down, and the children allowed to go to the Salybia School. That school always have issues, and the parents still sending their children there.

  6. trueblue
    May 14, 2014

    I am a teacher at the Sineku Primary School and would like to shed some light on the situation. too many times people talk without knowing the facts and make baseless comments that borders on stupidity. this situation has no political overtures. and it has nothing to do with how many times skerritt comes to the territory. the problem of burglary and vandalism has been plaguing the institution for a number of years. In April of 2013 when staff felt that they could take no more a letter with a detailed list of items stolen costs and the number of break ins were sent to the EO east. To date, no response has been given not even an acknowledgement of the receipt. In october of 2013 when things really hit rock bottom to the point where the lone computer that was given to the school gratis by child fund was stolen all the school files were lost and the kichen was left practically empty with barely enough cooking utensils and cutlery to cater for a a family of six far less the 1o8 students who call the institution home, a letter with 129 signatures was sent to the Chief education officer pleading the cause of the school. at a Principals meeting the then acting principal was given a verbal response (publicly) that there is some god news by the end the end of the month. that was November 2013. that has been the extent of the response received.
    in April of 2014 staff noticed trhat there were two young men on the compound at nights through inquiry a full week after the young men had commenced work the school was informed that the young men were employed under the NEP program to provide security at the school Mondays to Fridays from 7 pm to 5 am. there was no provision for security on the week ends. and that is where we are at.
    so please people be objective all the other issues have been brought to the attention of the authorities time and time again enough is enough the time for senseless bickering is over it is time for action.

    • UDOHREADYET
      May 14, 2014

      people trying to like your comment but its not working. what you wrote is just as it is. kudos. UREADY! these comments are just crazy… I have no idea how anyone with an inkling of intelligence or education could equate the prime minister’s responsibility to matters of burglary in a school.

    • Gina
      May 14, 2014

      I hope you are teaching your students to write with proper punctuation marks.

    • Mrs A
      May 14, 2014

      You mean to tell me the MINISRY OF CARIB AFFAIRS is seeking jobs for their people and they have no courtesy to inform the workplace where these people will be posted of what they are doing and what to expect?

      I am NOT surprised!

  7. Simply the Truth
    May 14, 2014

    The matter of the tank and water pose a health hazard. The Minister of Health should also be notified. This situation should be immediately rectified.
    Pertaining to break-ins and vandalism, a security alarm system with cameras should be installed in and around the school(s).
    Kalinago people and students, I do hope this urgent matter will be attended to as soon as possible.
    You may need to rally/protest to the government, peacefully until this situation is rectified.
    Time waits for no one. The children must be educated. They need the school(s) and one which should be healthy and safe.

  8. Anonymous
    May 13, 2014

    The news said the parents have withdrawn their children .
    Teachers are NOT on strike. they are employers of the government and should report to school as usual.

  9. Blessed
    May 13, 2014

    Everyone have the right to support who they want. If something is going wrong its our right to stand up and speak out. That’s why we will keep our children home till something is done.

  10. Ann Rivière
    May 13, 2014

    I have noticed that there are several security firms in the country. If the people are so concerned about the security of the school, why not employ one of these firms?

    • Concerned
      May 13, 2014

      You just heard how bad things are at the school, you really think they have finances to employ a security firm?

  11. FORIDA
    May 13, 2014

    The school need cameras!!

  12. infuriated
    May 13, 2014

    Nothing is said about bringing the perpetrators to justice. That community has two sects of people whose practice; religious or otherwise lends itself to blatant and wanton violence.

  13. sourceof strength
    May 13, 2014

    but all when Greneau was a teacher there the problems existed. we vote for him and he forgot under which conditions he left us. no wonder PM doh want him again. Not because we are caribs for them to do us that. Furthermore
    they doh need three primary schools in the area. Two enough, close seneku and bus the students to salybia.

  14. Kalinago Abroad
    May 13, 2014

    This sounds very political to me. You mean that they did not know that they had the drinking water problem all the time? I think that this is a set up….

  15. Kalinago
    May 13, 2014

    The same parents and teachers who are protesting are the same ones jumping My PM My PM!!!

  16. i must speak
    May 13, 2014

    i know they forget the state of the school n their children shame smh at least some ppl had the gutts to stand up!

  17. I NEVER KNEW
    May 13, 2014

    I am living in the Kalinago Territory but I never heard of the problem until now. Has anyone reported it to Hon. Skerrit? He has expressed in commitment to the Kalinago people, so I am sure he will address the matter promptly.

    • Anonymous
      May 13, 2014

      Is Hon Skerrit the minister of Education – why not say did u report it to Peter Pepper – why must everything has to be skerrit

    • Anonymous
      May 13, 2014

      Why the pm? ! Is there a parliamentary representative? !

    • UDOHREADYET
      May 14, 2014

      Carib people live on a reserve… the prime minister has nothing to do with criminal matters. that is an issue for allu to address with Carib territory security. when some break into your house you’ll call the prime minister? sot

  18. john bess
    May 13, 2014

    Stand up Kalinagoes,enough is enough,we deserve better,labour pa ka twavay,its time for change.

  19. Kalinago
    May 13, 2014

    Great move. Our authorities are too unconcerned and incompetent. The Ministry of Education is in complete chaos!!!

    No one knows who is in charge and the tail has no idea what the head is doing!!!

  20. Concerned
    May 13, 2014

    Skerrit reserve every week now and multiple days in the week. Don’t tell me all u never told him about that situation at that school. When those Caribs see skerrit they jumping high ” my PM! My PM!” they did not remember seneku school was in. Sad my people! Very sad

    • UDOHREADYET
      May 14, 2014

      what does the prime minister have to do with school breakings? allu living on a reserve… its a community matter/issue, solve allu problem.

      • kalinago
        May 15, 2014

        @alunotreadyyet. We living on a reserve but that doesn’t mean we are not humans, we are people too. God don’t look at one set he looks at everybody know matter wat colour u are. As u say we living on a reserve but that doesn’t mean for the government to turn a blind eye to us the kalinago people.

        So if u living in morn prosper or laudat an something happen to a school or garden what people must say they living in The forest? Cause u say we the kalinagoes living on a reserve an is a community matter not the the ministry of education or the government problem right? So tell me who paying the teachers then?

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