- Norman Grindley/Staff Photographer
MP Dr. Omar Davies,left, and community leader George Phang at a meeting at the Jones Town Primary School on Friday.Glenroy Sinclair and Glenda Anderson, Staff Reporters
SCHOOLS IN the volatile Arnett Gardens and Jones Town communities, which were forced to close down last week because of gang warfare and heavy gunfire, are expected to re-open their gates tomorrow under heavy police cover.
The police will not only patrol the school grounds but they will be found along the routes that the children use to travel to and from school.
Acting Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas told The Sunday Gleaner, "There will be a special deployment of police in the area to ensure that students reach school safely."
This was supported by Superintendent Gary Griffiths, head of the Kingston West Police Division, who gave the assurance of police presence on the school grounds and along the routes.
This is not the first time, however, that the police have had to patrol school premises because of violence. In 1996, the security forces had to implement similar measures in sections of West Kingston, after gun violence forced the closure of St. Anne's high and primary schools, St. Alban's Primary. Teachers and parents took the decision to close the schools after surviving a number violent incidents on the compounds.
Those which were forced to close last week include the Trench Town and Charlie Smith high schools, where students are preparing for the CXC examinations, Jones Town and Iris Gelly primary, along with a number of basic, schools.
The measures are being implemented following meetings last week between National Security Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips, and the Member of Parliament for the area, Dr. Omar Davies.
"I don't have any magic formula to stop the war or give everybody their own policeman," Dr. Davies said. "But I have spoken with Dr. Phillips and requested that the police level be increased in the community."
SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS
Along with the special security arrangements, the students sitting examinations are to receive other provisions facilitated by the Education Ministry to lessen the adverse effects of the violence.
"Certainly we will be in touch with the CXC office and the police to make sure that there is no disadvantage to any of the students because I think that some of the places out there are also centres, so this is something I will have to try to deal with between today (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday)," said Education Minister, Maxine Henry-Wilson.
Some CXC examinations are scheduled to begin as early as May 10. Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) started on April 23.
At least two persons have been killed in the South St. Andrew constituency of Dr. Davies, since April 9, followed by sporadic shootings between men loyal to the 'Bi-Bow Posse' who dominate Jones Town and members from the wider community such as 'Top Jungle', Pegasus, Angola and Booklyn. These are housing schemes located in separate sections.
Early last week administrators in several of the schools had said the violence in the area would not force them to close their gates.
But by mid-week, like the rest of the community, the schools were like ghost towns. The gates remained closed for the rest of the week.
On Wednesday a number of persons were attacked, beaten and chased out of their homes. Several cellular phones were taken away from women who the perpetrators branded as spies for rival gunmen.
