Richards, in a press release shared late Monday afternoon with the media, is expressing outrage at the conditions at the federation’s largest educational institution, the Basseterre High School and the series of events that has led to the apparent strike action being taken by Teachers at the school.
Richards said “The situation at the Basseterre High School is symptomatic of the dire situation our country finds itself in at the moment. Due to years of fiscal irresponsibility and gross mismanagement, the government is so strangled by a debt they created that they cannot properly resource our schools and train and educate our children. It is totally unacceptable that after one year the government has done nothing to address this very serious situation. I express my full support for our Teachers and their stance and I call on the government to expeditiously address the situation and as a result return our teachers and students to a safe and secure learning environment.”
BHS students did not attend classes today and teachers are on strike. The teachers and students are protesting against toxic, possibly life threatening contaminants in the school lab. Teachers and students have complained for over a year to the ministries of health and education to address the situation. Neither government departments have addressed the issue. In the meantime students have been complaining of various sudden ailments.
According to the PAM release, Richards spoke with some members of the teachers union and teachers at the Basseterre High and they expressed to him their grave concern regarding the situation at the school and their health. Mr. Richards expressed his support and vowed to do what he can to implore and bring pressure to the government to address the situation, said the release.