Dear Editor,
I am a teacher at a Corentyne primary school (name given) and it is with much disappointment and pain that I am bringing this letter to your attention. I was physically abused at school on January 19, 2012, by the aunt of a former Grade 2 pupil who alleged that I hit her nephew. I subsequently lost my baby and was off the job on a week’s medical leave, yet the police at Springlands ignored me for months and reversed the story. I was informed on Thursday by the Springlands Police Station that I would be charged for assaulting the child and the aunt. My attacker’s husband is a policeman and the police have openly shown their bias. I reported the incident to the police on the same day but they were reluctant to investigate and charge the perpetrator.
I met with the Deputy Commander of B Division but to no avail. Meanwhile, my attacker kept sending text messages on my cell phone from a cell (number given) on January 25 and 26, 2012 and she and the child’s mother kept calling my phone at odd hours. (I do not know who gave them my number because I never did.) My attacker wanted me to “forget what happened as both of us are mothers.” How could I forget “what happened“ when I had a miscarriage? The law is for the lawless and that’s where I sought recourse.
Over the months I have been frequently visiting the Springlands Police Station to get an insight into the state of the investigation but have been pushed around by the police.
I engaged the attention of the Minister of Education in April when she had attended the GTU Conference in New Amsterdam. She denounced the attacks on teachers and signalled that the perpetrators of such lawlessness must face the full brunt of the law.
In April, the Officer in Charge of Springlands Police Station came to the school on several occasions but could not receive a statement from the headmistress as she had been instructed by the Regional Education Office to remain silent.
On June 6, 2012 I was informed by Officer Munroe that I should attend Springlands Magistrate’s Court on June 7, 2012 at 10:00 hours. I spent several hours at the court and was later informed that the case had been called earlier and I would be charged for assaulting the woman and her nephew and would have to attend court next Thursday. What has happened to our legal system?
I received no moral support from the Department of Education. Instead, I am being targeted by the education officials. I had to move my class to face the washroom and have been subjected to criticisms by education officials whenever they visit the school because I was wrong to speak to the Minister of Education about my plight. All the Department of Education did was to issue a transfer for the child to attend another primary school in his home community.
Through it all, I am left to carry the pain of losing my child and am now faced with the humiliation of being charged wrongfully because some of the police at Springlands have no respect for law and order.
I have lost confidence in the Guyana Police Force, particularly Springlands Police Station. I want the relevant authority to take note of this injustice because this attack on teachers is eroding our society and teachers are no longer safe in their workplaces.
Today, I am the voice of other educators as I do not wish that any other teacher should endure the pain and humiliation that I am faced with.
Yours faithfully,
Carmelita Hackim
Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to Commissioner of Police (ag) Leroy Brummell and to Education Officer Region 6 Shafiran Bhajan for any comment they might wish to make.