Democratic Labour President Calls for Minister of Education to be Relieved of Duties Amidst Environmental Issues in Schools

How can Minister of Education Kay McConney still have a job?

That is the question Democratic Labour President (DLP) Dr Ronnie Yearwood wants answered as he again called for her to be relieved of her duties after a number of schools have been plagued by environmental issues.

He was speaking in the end of year DLP media conference yesterday morning held at the party’s headquarters in George Street, St Michael. He said there have been too many problems in the Ministry of Education for the Minister to remain in place.

“We have a situation where Ann Hill, St John Primary, Luther Thorne, Lester Vaughan, St Stephen’s, All Saints all have issues. Literally it seems like every day there is a new front page with a school that has an environmental problem. Yet the Minister of Education is silent, absent and missing,” he said.

“She is the worst Minister of Education bar the last one. We thought the last one was the worst but now we’ve got the worst and they put the last one and put her in charge of road works and now we have more potholes than roads. Why isn’t the Minister of Education relieved of her duties?”

He listed some of the problems under McConney’s watch.

“You have the Springer Memorial debacle, you have all of the six or seven schools that I mentioned with environmental problems, you have the fact that teachers are under stress and they don’t have the resources. They are having to buy basic supplies to manage their schools. Against the backdrop of all of these things and you are telling me the Minister of Education is still in her job? These things are hard to fathom.”

The DLP leader implored parents to pull their children out of school if they discovered it had environmental issues.

“If it is happening at other schools, stop staying silent,” Yearwood said.

“We have to end this cloak of silence that is covering this nation. Speak out. If it isn’t working, march, sick out, stay home. The reality is you are not going to get the change that you want unless you are part of the change.

“Yes, the Democratic Labour Party is here. Yes, we can marshal the troops and make policies. Yes, we can defend you, but you also have to be a part of that process because that is what the new politics is about. In many ways it is about reclaiming your country and reclaiming your voice. The days are over, it is time to have some action, not only from our membership but the country to engage itself.”

Luther Thorne Memorial Primary School is the latest to have parents and teachers complaining about the environmental issues plaguing the Wildey, St Michael institution with fears that the building is making their children sick. Their complaints come after the fact that there have been rat and bird droppings as well as structural deficiencies at the plant, forcing its closure yesterday and today. (JC)