Representatives from the Alliance For Change (AFC) on Friday donated four toilet sets and other items to the Parent-Teachers’ Association (PTA) of the Santa Rosa Primary School even as the body was sent a directive from the Regional Education Office not to accept any items from the party.
However, the chairperson of the association, Mark Atkinson and a few other parents went ahead and accepted the items as they indicated that they were acting in the interest of the 700 plus children at the school who still use pit latrines.
The issue of pit latrines still being used by public schools sparked a debate when nine-year-old Tenesha De Souza died after she fell into a latrine at Santa Rosa on her first day at school.
Following her death the PTA had issued a release asking for assistance to install flush toilets at the school and the AFC responded by saying that they would donate the toilet bowls and other items, including plumbing material, to the school.
However, their offer did not have a favourable reception from Education Minister Shaik Baksh who at a press conference last week said that the AFC would not have been allowed to donate to the school unless it got permission from the school management, the education department, the regional administration and ultimately the Ministry of Education. The minister had said that while his ministry accepts assistance from international bodies and non-governmental organisations it “would not allow the AFC to use this as a political agenda for their political objectives and goals to go into these schools and do what they want.” He further stated said that the party would have to work along with the established system and should not be “jumping on the bandwagon wildly.
“This is a matter concerning the health [and] safety of schoolchildren in Guyana which I as minister and the Ministry of Education have deepest concern for and we would work tirelessly to ensure the safety and health of the school population,” the minister had stated.
Following the minister’s statement Atkinson had said his body would accept donations from the AFC and any other organsiation or individual since they had made a public appeal. “This is not a political issue. My only concern is for the 700 children at the school… We asked for assistance and if the AFC or anyone comes forward with assistance we would accept it,” the man told Stabroek News.
‘Petrified’
AFC leader Raphael Trotman yesterday told Stabroek News that they made a quiet donation to Atkinson and others as they did not want to make a “grand splash” following the negativity that was attached to their offer. He pointed out that ultimately the donation was made for the benefit of the children and the community at large.
According to Trotman he had an informal conversation with some female students of the school and he learnt that they were petrified of the pit latrine and following the death of the child they had resorted to using the bushes to relieve themselves. He pointed out that the installing of the flush toilets is urgent so as to assuage the trauma and fear of the children.
He said members of his party see themselves as citizens first who have a duty to help all Guyanese as politicians, doctors, lawyers or whatever profession they are in. “In this regard we are willing to work with the government or any non-governmental organisations or individual,” he said.
Trotman said he found the written directive from the regional education office disturbing. He said that it is disappointing that party politics should come into play in real situations where citizens require help.
On behalf of his party Trotman expressed gratitude to the corporate citizens and other individuals who donated the toilet sets and cash. “Our gratitude too to the residents of Santa Rosa for being gracious enough to accept the gift,” he said.