By Denise Clarke, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
WIDESPREAD PROTESTS by taxi and bus operators marred the first day of the Easter term in schools across western Jamaica yesterday.
Several schools had to dismiss early, as the majority of students failed to show up for classes. The first shift at the Petersfield High School went ahead, although most of the students arrived more than an hour later than the 7:30 a.m. start. However, the second shift had to be dismissed at 3:30 p.m., instead of 5 p.m., as the strike by taximen intensified.
Principal Basil Chambers said classes were hurriedly dismissed after the school received police confirmation that a bus driver had been killed by protesters at the site of a road block in the parish.
"We were worried about their safety, so we sent them home and the teachers had to hasten home too, due to what is happening," Mr. Chambers explained. "We hope tomorrow will be a better day but, if the taxis are not running, the students still will not be able to make it to school."
In St. James, the low student turn out forced early dismissal at the Montego Bay High School for Girls. The school was dismissed at 12:30 p.m., two hours before the scheduled time. A representative at the school said that several parents of the few students that did manage to make it to school, began collecting their children since mid-morning.
At Cornwall College, classes continued until the scheduled dismissal time of 2 p.m. as most of the students reported to school.
Schools in Hanover and Westmoreland were also affected, as the protests left students stranded on the streets.
