Several parents protesting for the completion of the Reform Hindu Primary School on Friday made a shocking discovery of several marijuana plants growing on the compound.
The nine marijuana trees, approximately three feet in height, were growing among other crops in a garden. Shortly after the discovery, the police went down to the site in Gasparillo and uprooted the marijuana plants. The school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA) president Sheryl-Ann Ramdial said the marijuana was not the only discovery made, as it also appeared that someone has been living in the building.
“When we went there this morning we found the gate open and to our surprise, someone is living there on the compound and planting crops in an area that look like a makeshift kitchen. We saw bowls and pots. There was also a bed with a sheet and pillow on it. Clothes, like pants and jerseys, were hanging on a line outside.”
There was also a line with clothes inside the building.
She said there was also a strong odour of marijuana in one of the rooms.
They said the marijuana trees were growing among tomato, bodi, ochro, pimento, hot pepper and corn plants on the compound. Ramdial said, “This is wrong why do these children have to suffer so much and this big, abandoned building is just wasting. We just want to know what is this Minister of Education really allowing. He does not want to open the school and now someone staying here, planting crops and living on the compound while our children suffer.”
Ramdial said the building was supposed to have been completed in 2015 but worked stopped when the structure was 90 per cent completed. Ramdial said about two years ago Education Minister Dr Anthony Garcia informed them that there was no funding to complete the school, but he promised that the school would be a priority.
“But we saw on the news recently that they had a list of 27 schools to be completed next year and Reform is not that list.” She said parents waited patiently all this time thinking that their school would be completed, but they will not be silent any longer. Ramdial said they will continue to protest, even if it means a demonstration in front of the Education Ministry’s building in Port-of-Spain until their school is completed.
The 150 plus students are being housed in a temple in conditions described as humid and cramped. Ramdial said whenever it rained the school ground would flood because it was below the road level. “The children shoes would get soak and they then get sick. The children always falling because the ground not good.”
One of the classrooms is being conducted on the outside of the temple. The library is also being used as a classroom. Parent Deokie Ramlal Sookhan said Standard One, Two and Three share one room which is blocked off with blackboards.
“The children are stifling in there, they feel sick,” said the mother. The parents also complained that the sewer would overflow whenever it rains. “The children are suffering why people have to continue to beg and beg for something that is right and for our children.”
Ramdial said it is time the students of Reform Hindu Primary School become a priority for the ministry.
“The government is willing to spend $600 million to accommodate these outsiders who are coming into our country. Why not allocate a little bit of that and finish this school here, that is what we are looking for”, she protested, “Why is this school not a priority?”
Minister in the Ministry of Education Dr Lovell Francis responded to our questions via WhatsApp Messenger. He said the ministry has launched an investigation into the matter. “I was informed of the occurrence. The information has been relayed to the Permanent Secretary of the MOE and we will investigate.” Francis said he will also be contacting the PTA about visiting the site. Minister Garcia did not respond to WhatsApp messages and calls to his mobile phone went unanswered.