Claudine Housen, Staff Reporter
Principal of the Rio Bueno All-Age in Trelawny, Melton Blackwood, points to the empty table which once housed seven of the eight computers which were stolen from the institution earlier this week. He is calling on the Ministry of Education to provide extra lighting and a watchman to aid the school, which he says has been plagued by thieves. The computers are valued at over $500,000. - PHOTO BY CLAUDINE HOUSEN
WESTERN BUREAU:
FOLLOWING A major robbery at the Rio Bueno All-Age School in Trelawny earlier this week, principal for the institution Melton Blackwood, is requesting that the Ministry of Education provide better security facilities for the institution.
"We will be asking the Ministry for aid to get back the computers," he said. "We will also be asking for additional lights and a watchman (presently we do not have a watchman)."
On Tuesday, eight computers, one overhead projector, one VCR, two CD players, a printer, a globe, crayons, modelling clay and $7,580 in cash were stolen. The equipment stolen has an estimated value of $581,430.
There are 88 students attending the school, and Mr. Blackwood said that the school community is devastated by this recent break-in.
NOT THE FIRST BREAK-IN
According to Mr. Blackwood, this is not the first break-in to take place at the school as persons have stolen building materials before, going as far as to clamber up to the roof to get them. But, the principal claims, this robbery "has the most far reaching effect".
"We are in a plight, we are really in a plight," the agitated Mr. Blackwood told The Gleaner on Wednesday. "Our computers are used for computer programmes for all the children and there is an adult class that does computer lessons. They were hoping to complete the class somewhere between October or November (of this year) and then HEART would give them a certificate. Now we don't have any equipment with us - they took everything."
He appealed to the community of Rio Bueno to come forward with information to assist the police to apprehend the culprits, and suggested that if they know where the equipment is, they should give the school a call.
"We have itemised them and we have serial numbers on all of them. We can identify them if we see them anywhere," he said. "We are appealing for any help that can be given because we need to get on track."
