Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

This eroded section of Rhoden Crescent in Olympic Gardens, St. Andrew, which leads to the main entrance of the Penwood High School. - File

The doors to Penwood High School, St. Andrew, remained closed yesterday for the second day running because of a blocked roadway leading to the school.

On Monday, angry parents and residents blocked Rhoden Crescent, the road leading to the school, and padlocked the gate, complaining that both the thoroughfare and the school were in a deplorable condition.

Austin Burrell, the headmaster, told The Gleaner yesterday that the canteen suppliers were not able to get past the barricades to transport food, preventing the institution from providing meals for the students.

Senator Noel Monteith, State Minister for Education and Youth, urged those responsible for blocking the road to ensure that students are able to attend classes.

He claimed that the protests were politically motivated by sympathisers of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

Political overtones

"I am of the view that Penwood has political overtones because the Member of Parliament has been informed of the process as to where we are (in repairing the school)," he said.

But Andrew Holness, JLP Member of Parliament for the West Central St. Andrew constituency where the school is located, assured that the road would be cleared as residents were optimistic after Mayor of Kingston, Desmond McKenzie, sent a team to assess it.

However, the principal was unable to say if classes will begin today.

Penwood High, which accommodates more than 900 students, is situated in the violence-plagued Olympic Gardens community.