Reporter
carisa.lee@cnc3.co.tt
Police are investigating the reports of robbery and assault of students outside the Malick Secondary School.
Head of North Eastern Division Senior Superintendent Mervyn Edwards said the Morvant CID is working on the two robbery reports they received.
On Monday the police said no reports were made about the incidents which reportedly took place last Thursday and only heard about the incident through the media.
On Friday, president of the T&T Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) Martin Lum Kin released an audio file in which he described and condemned the incident.
Lum Kin said he advised his members to make an official police report but felt that based on the situation the police should have intervened anyway.
“The members of the TTPS who are stationed in that vicinity are well aware of the crime situation as well as the threats imposed on that particular community. We believe because of the nature of the incident that the TTPS should have rendered some assistance as well as an investigation into that matter,” he said.
Lum Kin also pointed out that broken fences around the school compound allow unwanted entry.
Minister of Education Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly said schools are provided with security officers who generally provide a level of deterrence to unauthorised people.
“They don’t provide maximum security, as in a prison. Any security breaches of that nature would have to be reported to the police,” she said.
Students said it was not the first time an incident had occurred but the bandits were more prepared this time.
“First time we were lucky because we were way ahead in front. This time they came with gun, the last time it was knife,” one student said.
Another added: “They hold me and my friend at gunpoint. We get gun butt after they done take everything from we.”
They described one of the weapons as a short black and grey handgun.
Senior Superintendent Edwards said he has instructed community police officers to go into the school and meet with the principal and dean of discipline. He also hopes to meet with staff and students before the school term ends.
“Even before this incident, in the area of Malick Secondary and Russell Latapy High I have patrols from 7 am to 9 am and from 2 pm to 4.30 pm,” he said.
Edwards said some of the areas where the incident happened have no cameras and the school is located in a challenging area but recent interventions made the area calm. He said the recent incident is concerning.