The AFC yesterday denied the charge that it had known of the exploitation of Kato Primary School students in Region Eight, who were made to fetch firewood to cook their meals two months ago and was only now bringing it to the fore to score political points.
AFC MP Valerie Garrido-Lowe yesterday said that while one of the party’s regional councillors was aware of the situation, it was never brought to the attention of the party leaders as it was being dealt with at a regional level.
Minister of Education Priya Manickchand suggested on Wednesday at a press conference that the intent of the AFC councillor who brought the incident to light was malicious and political. She also said that the source was paid for the information. “The Regional Democratic Council is fully responsible and [he] should spank himself first…He is just as responsible. If he is truly involved then he ought to know that this is not a daily thing…This is not done two or three times weekly. The council should be more civic and responsible,” Manickchand said.
Concerns have also been raised that the councillor never visited the Ministry of Education or the Local Government Ministry’s main offices or spoke to the ministers about the situation before or after going to the press.
Garrido-Lowe defended the councillor, Mohamed Nieem Gafoor, who she described as “an honourable man,” saying that he did not receive any payments for the photos or information and was using the media as a way of highlighting the problem. She denied accusations that he sold the story for financial benefits. “No, no he would never do that,” she said.
Region Eight Chairman Mark Crawford told Stabroek News that he was unaware of the problem and it was not until it was highlighted in the media that he learnt of what had happened. However, he said that he has since learnt that the episode occurred months ago.
He added that the councillor was a miner and perhaps took the pictures when he was in the Kato area on a personal visit and chose to visit the media when he came to the city recently to also undertake personal business. “I did not know of this. You see, he is a miner like me and maybe when he was doing that or when they visited, that was when they took it [the photographs] but I never knew of this,” he said.
Manickchand announced on Wednesday that a country-wide investigation of the national school feeding programme was underway to ensure what happened in Kato was an isolated case.
“At no time should children be asked to fetch firewood, water or engage in any programme-related activity that could be deemed as exploitation of children,” Manickchand said, while noting that it was agreed upon by the community, in a signed document prior to the commencement of the programme, that parents would be asked to contribute firewood for cooking.
