As the police investigation into an incident at the Santa Rosa Government Primary School two weeks ago continues, security measures have been adjusted to ensure the safety of the staff and students.
A senior police official yesterday confirmed officers had introduced a daily check-in system with the school’s administration, along with increased patrols in and around the Pinto Road, Arima, community.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education (MoE) also confirmed it had undertaken a comprehensive review of the school’s infrastructure and existing security policies, after it was claimed an intruder had gained access to the compound via a hole in the perimeter fencing.
While investigators have not yet apprehended the suspect because of the “generic” description provided, the police official assured this had not prevented law enforcement agents from assuming a greater responsibility to make those working at and attending the facility feel safer.
Noting there were no security cameras at the school, the official said they were depending on footage captured by those living nearby in order to identify and locate the suspect.
“The police have taken an active role in ensuring the security of the school is maintained,” the official assured.
Disputing the date cited for when the incident would have occurred, the MoE claimed it happened around 7.20 am on June 10, and not June 2, as was previously claimed.
It was alleged that a male suspect told the guard on duty he was an On-the-Job (OJT) music teacher and later locked himself in a storeroom with several female students and made sexual advances to some of them in return for money.
The police confirmed the information, as they said the suspect tricked the guard into believing he had a right to be on the compound until a teacher was alerted and she raised an alarm, forcing the suspect to flee.
Both the police and Education Minister Dr Michael Dowlath said the staff and students continue to be treated to public sensitisation sessions on how they could identify legitimate visitors to the school and how they should act when and if approached by strangers.
The MoE added that it had undertaken a review of the school’s crisis management system so that the emergency drill will also include a lockdown.
The National Parent Teacher Association (NPTA) and T&T Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) roundly condemned the traumatising incident, which they said had breached safety protocols and resulted in the staff and students being placed in a vulnerable and frightening position.