Clarke

Children's Advocate Mary Clarke yesterday expressed concern about the use of armed guards on school premises.

She was referring to the incident at the Vere Technical High School in Clarendon on Tuesday where five students were reportedly shot by a security guard employed to protect the students.

"From my point of view, they shouldn't have any weapons on the school premises ... But I am equally concerned about the reaction of the children and the community to the incident and the gross indiscipline that was displayed," Mrs. Clarke said. She was speaking with journalists after a workshop on programming standards and subscriber television in Jamaica, put on by the Broadcasting Commission.

She suggested that proper perimeter fencing should be utilised with unarmed security personnel guarding school entrances and exits.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Clarke implored the broadcasting community to comply with the broadcasting code in an effort to reduce violent and explicit content aired on television.

She further implored broadcasters to partner with the Violence Prevention Alliance in promoting violence-free communities.