What was supposed to be the usual annual fair for the St. Joseph High (SJH) School was marred by violence as several patrons were attacked and robbed on Saturday night.
Scores of past students and other supporters of the St. Joseph High School Annual Fair took to social media yesterday morning to express their anger and dissatisfaction with what transpired.
The School’s Parent-Teachers Association also released a statement yesterday condemning the incidents.
“The PTA of the St. Joseph High School regrets the incidents that occurred during and after the end of our annual fair held on Saturday, 27 October 2018. These incidents of unsavoury behaviour that keep reoccurring at activities held on the school lawns and at the end of the activity [on] Woolford Avenue are daunting. We are disgusted by it and the lack of interest by the authorities to bring control to this spiralling scourge,” the statement said.
It added that the organising committee for the fair, being aware that similar incidents might occur, contracted protection from a private security firm as well as the Guyana Police Force.
A source close to the event told Stabroek News, that the organisers hired ranks from the police force to provide security but they were a no-show. The source explained that approximately 10-12 guards from the Professional Guard Service were hired. Of the amount, it was explained that four were armed guards, while the remaining were equipped with batons and security scanners.
“The Guyana Police Force has once again failed the St. Joseph High School family and its patrons. These incidents could have been avoided if the Police had been there to deter the thugs that were carrying out their acts of robbing, beating, and traumatising our patrons especially through the avenue at the end of the fair,” the statement said.
The organisers appealed to the general public to assist in dealing “with the degenerates of our society that disrupt our activities that are organised for recreational purposes.”
The statement went on to say that the SJH family condemns the acts and sympathises with those that were affected.
“Let’s work together so [we] can create an environment that is safe for the wellbeing of all citizens especially our children who are depending on us for protection,” the statement said.
The source noted that most of the attacks occurred while patrons were on Woolford Avenue and at one point they had to close the gate to the school compound and keep students in because of what was happening on the road.
It was pointed out that many of the stories of what occurred were hearsay and organisers are unable to say how many patrons were actual victims.
