The Queen’s College (QC) Board of Governors is investigating an incident between two students that led to the parent of one of them, Justice Navindra Singh visiting the school in the company of a senior policeman and allegedly intimidating the Vice-Principal, according to a report submitted to the Ministry of Education by the Principal, Candaice Cave-Stephen.
When contacted yesterday, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand told Stabroek News that while the Ministry is aware of the incident, the School’s Board is investigating. She noted that the Board has received a report from the Principal and will now have to put the allegations before Justice Singh.
Manickchand said that the Board indicated that it will be writing to Justice Singh to present his side of the story and then the matter will be addressed.
“That is how these matters are dealt with regularly. We have protocols to follow and the School Board is doing that and when their investigation is completed, then we can make a final pronouncement. At this time, the Ministry is just aware of the incident and since it is a Board School, they are conducting their investigations,” Manickchand said.
In her report addressed to the Assistant Chief Education Officer (Secondary), Cave-Stephen outlined the events that led to Justice Singh showing up at her office, unannounced, in the company of the Head of the Guyana Police Force’s Major Crimes Unit Mitchell Caesar and a female rank.
The letter, seen by Stabroek News, informed that on October 27, after classes were dismissed, the Eighth Grade Supervisor Teri Andrews took Justice Singh’s daughter and a male student to the office of the Principal. The Principal was informed that both students had hit each other after the Judge’s daughter was attempting to gain entry into the other student’s classroom.
The Principal, in the missive, said that she made both students apologise to each other and cautioned them not to repeat such behaviour. After the students were dismissed from the Principal’s office, Cave-Stephen said that she received a call from Justice Singh who expressed dissatisfaction with the way in which the matter was resolved.
“I attempted to explain why that course of action was taken when Justice Singh interrupted to say the following in a very aggressive tone ‘Who do you think you are to have my child apologize to someone who hit her? … This matter will be reported to the police and I will bring the police into Queen’s College to you.’
“My response was ‘noted sir’ before ending the call. I made a call to the mother of [the other student] and related the matter to her and how it was resolved and implored that she talks with him to ensure that such behaviour is not repeated,” the Principal said in her letter.
Cave-Stephen said that on Thursday last, she received a call from Principal Education Officer Immanuel Bridgewater who inquired whether she was aware that the Judge had made a police report claiming that his daughter was assaulted by another student. The Principal said that she responded negatively and terminated the call.
“On Friday, November 11th, sometime after 11 am, in the foyer area outside of the principal’s office, I was approached by Justice Singh who informed me that he and the police have a meeting with me this morning. I indicated to him that I have no meeting scheduled with him and any police officer and went into the office with two education officers (Mrs Atkinson and Mr Zameen) with whom I had another meeting at the time. I asked the Deputy Principal (ag) to inform Justice Singh (the parent) and the police officers that I will not be engaging them at the school and they should visit the Ministry of Education.
“The Deputy Principal (ag) (Lenise Parker) returned to my office in a traumatized state to say that Justice Singh (the parent) in the presence of the two officers Mr Caesar (Head of Major Crimes Unit) and a female officer”, had shouted at her, Cave-Stephen’s letter informed.
The Principal said that upon hearing about the incident and seeing the fear on her Deputy’s face, and the fact that Justice Singh and the officers were still outside of her office, the Education Officer Ms Atkinson called an Assistant Commissioner to assist. The Assistant Commissioner sent two Officers – Detective Tappin and Officer Sabora – to Queen’s College to address the situation.
One Mr Hardat from School Boards Secretariat and both Education Officers were also present when the reports were given to the officers in the principal’s office.
“…this experience was very traumatizing to my deputy principal, me, students who were close enough to hear and see what was happening and at least one teacher who witnessed the incident outside of my office…
“…we must be allowed to carry out our mandate of educating our learners without intimidation…” the Principal posited.
A report was made to the Board of Governors of Queen’s College and the Principal was advised to develop some standard operating procedures as it relates to visits to the school by parents or others.
The letter was also sent to the President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union.
