Following a recent break-in at the government quarters at Port Kaituma, in Region One, where items were stolen from teachers, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has promised improved security arrangements.
Leon Beaton, one of the teachers who suffered losses in the most recent break-in, is grateful for the intervention, including the replacement of the stolen items.
Beaton, 23, who teaches at Port Kaituma and attends the University of Guyana, took to Facebook to post about the recent break-in due to his frustration as it was only the most recent case. This time, Beaton said, the thief tore through the mesh of his kitchen window and removed items.
He noted that there was a break-in some three months prior but he used his savings to replace some of the stolen items while the ministry assisted. There was also an attempted break-in and that he and another teacher alerted the relevant authorities with hopes that some sort of better security would be put in place.
Yesterday Beaton explained to this newspaper that there was an attempted break-in when schools first closed in March, 2020 due to COVID-19, and that he had returned home when a teacher contacted him and told him it seemed like someone tried to break-in. A few weeks later there was a successful break-in, he said, and the same teacher noticed the back door was open and the mesh was ripped out. They made reports to the police station and complaints to the MoE. He said that they sent letters requesting the installation of grills and a guard but they were told they had to wait until the budget.
After returning from the Christmas Holidays, he said, they discovered a window was open and a louver pane was missing. Their items were also gone. Once again they made reports at the station but Beaton became frustrated and made the Facebook post.
Beaton noted that in total, the stolen items amounted to over $200,000 in value. In the first break-in, his losses amounted to over $400,000. He explained that the ministry had assisted with “very few items” the first time and that he ended up replacing his electronics because he needed it for his classes. He said that he did not leave that set of replaced items when he went home for the holidays.
Following his post, Beaton said Education Minister Priya Manickchand told him that because it was the weekend they would get assistance during the following week. The following Tuesday almost all of the items, except the electronics, were replaced.
According to a statement issued by the MoE, the ministry intervened after learning of the complaints in order to assist the two teachers with having their items replaced.
It explained that the Department of Education for Region One has replaced all dietary, cleaning and other items that were stolen. The electronic items that could not be sourced in the region were ordered externally. Those items will be in the region before the end of this week.
Repairs have been done on the building that was damaged during the burglary, the MoE said. It stated that the steel mesh on the windows was reinforced and grill barriers will be installed at the windows of the building.
Additionally, the department made arrangements for security guards to be rotated so that they can also guard the apartments during the nights until additional guards can be sourced. The MoE said the police have also agreed to make regular checks/patrols in the neighbourhood, especially during the nights.
However, Beaton informed that the police said that they would be doing hourly patrols but he hasn’t seen them patrolling and he wasn’t sure whether they have as yet. Beaton also stated that the area was not prone to burglaries although he noted that burglaries became a bit rampant in the area about two years ago after there was an influx of different people.
According to him, the Ministry said that provisions for a guard to be stationed at the apartment are in progress. For how, the teachers are coping. Beaton said, “I won’t say that were traumatized [but we would definitely like to have security]”. He added, “When I’m sleeping at night I would hear a sound and I would go to check and hardly sleep in peace.”
Beaton said while mesh at the window doesn’t make him feel safe, it “felt very nice” to know that the ministry was taking their situation seriously and providing help to show that it cares. (Lazeena Yearwood)
