Members of the Alliance For Change (AFC) are expected to travel to Moruca, Region One this week to hand over several complete toilet sets to the Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) of the Santa Rosa Primary School and also to assess the cost of installing the toilet sets, according to leader of the party, Raphael Trotman.
Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday Trotman says he expects to be in the area by Friday and that they would also be donating a water tank along with pipes and other fittings to the PTA.
The move is in keeping with a promise made by the party two weeks ago to build toilets for the school following the death of nine-year-old Tenesha DeSouza after she fell into the hole of a pit latrine on the first day of school.
At a press conference, the AFC had said that it was prepared to join with like-minded groups and individuals in installing flush toilets at the school.
The AFC leader said that they would be taking along some technical personnel but they would also be looking for persons in the area who possess the expertise to build and install the toilet sets.
He said the items were generously donated by businesses. He said they have not received any feedback from the government following their public announcement but noted that they would not hand over the items to the headmaster of the school but rather to the parents.
Following the death of De Souza the more than 700 students of the school have been accessing the one flush toilet available at the school.
At their press conference Trotman had said his party was outraged by the statement made by Minister of Education, Shaik Baksh to Stabroek News that pit latrines at hinterland schools were adequate and was appalled to know that there were those who administer the affairs of children who still espouse these antiquated views.
Baksh, when asked by this newspaper whether following the death of the child his ministry would be phasing out pit latrines at school had said there is no such plan since pit latrines are internationally accepted as a proper form of disposal.
The use of pit latrines at schools, especially in the hinterland, has been condemned by many, including the Amerindian People’s Assoc-iation and the Guyana Organ-isation of Indigenous Peoples.
And Chairperson of the school’s PTA, Mark Atkinson, had told this newspaper that while the lone flush toilet was for the use of the teachers they have allowed the children to use the facility following the tragedy.
In a press release the PTA had indicated that for years it has been “lobbying the government for modern hygienic waste disposal systems for the school, which has the highest school population in the village with an enrollment of 700+ children from ages 5 years, 9 months to 12 years.”
The PTA had taken the opportunity to once again appeal to the government, non-governmental organisations and civic-minded persons to assist in making its vision of improved modern, sanitary facilities for the children a reality. “To this effect, the PTA has embarked on this project with material contribution of sand and stone to ensure that the urgent need of the children is met,” the release had said.
