A teacher from a West Coast Berbice secondary school remained in custody last night as police from New Amsterdam and Fort Wellington stations investigated allegations that he sexually molested female students.
In a dramatic scene yesterday, the heavily-armed officers, headed by Commander of ‘B’ Division, Stephen Merai and Assistant Superintendent Rishie Dass swooped down on the school around 10:30 am during the snack break and arrested the teacher. Reports are that the allegations have reached the Commissioner of Police’s office, as well as the Ministry of Human Services.
The teacher who is a graduate from the teachers’ training college was reportedly involved with different girls over a period of time.
Reports are that a complaint was made about three years ago that he touched a female student inappropriately. He was grilled about the matter but brushed it off, saying that it happened accidentally. He was also asked to apologize to the student and the matter was dropped.
Police sources told Stabroek News that they have seized a cellular phone with recent video recordings of the teacher involved in sexual activities with the students. The teacher had reportedly lost the phone about two weeks ago and it then ended up in the hands of the police, who started their investigations since then.
At the school yesterday, the officers first went to the headmaster’s office and requested that the teacher be taken there. He was told of the allegations, handcuffed and escorted out of the school.
The headmaster who was visibly shaken by the episode, refused to comment when approached by the media.
The teachers, too, were tight-lipped and only told reporters that they were “traumatized” by the heavy police presence.
Just after the police arrived and arrested the teacher some of his colleagues were heard commenting that they did not know what was taking place.
As he was placed in handcuffs and being led out, the school bell sounded loudly, indicating that the break was over. Teachers even shouted loudly for the students to “get into your classrooms.”
Officers of the Child Care and Protection Agency of Region Five have been called in to deal with the matter. Some of the female students who were reportedly molested were taken to New Amsterdam, along with teachers.
