I cyah believe dis nah
Primary school boy steups
...School guard attacked for intervening
Trinidad Express
Carolyn Kissoon South Bureau
Saturday, December 1st 2007A security guard was beaten at the Montrose Government Primary School yesterday, after warning workmen there to stop making lewd remarks to female pupils.
The workmen were contracted by the Ministry of Education to place wire mesh throughout the building to prevent pigeons from entering classrooms.
After the guard was beaten and taken to hospital, parents refused to allow their children into the school while the workmen were on the compound. They demanded a full investigation into the incident.
Anna Maria Jackson, secretary of the Parent/Teacher Association, said parents did not feel safe leaving their children at the school yesterday.
"Blood was splattered near the guard booth and the glass window was broken. Many parents brought their children to school. But when they heard about the incident they took their children and returned home. They do not want their children in school at the same time as the workers," she said.
The school gates remained locked yesterday. Parents lined up outside trying to get to their children.
Jackson said around 6.30 p.m. on Thursday, a male security guard called the workmen and attempted to speak with them about harassing the schoolgirls.
"They were calling the girls sexy and whistling at them when they walked by. When the guard tried to speak with them about it they started beating him with a wrecking bar (crowbar). He ran inside his booth and locked the door, but they broke a glass window and went inside," she said.
Yesterday would have been the first time in months that the pupils would have had a full week of school. Parents have staged several protests outside the school over pigeon droppings and a leaking sewer system in recent months.
The ministry hired a contractor to sanitise the compound and place nylon mesh to prevent the birds from going inside the classrooms. Yesterday, Jackson said the security guard, who is employed with Imjin Security, was being treated at hospital.
Jinnah Mohammed, director of operations at Imjin Security, in confirming the incident, said: "Our security guard was attacked by workmen on the school's compound. We have launched our own investigation into the incident."
The company, school officials and police declined to give the name of the guard.
Chaguanas police visited the scene and questioned several people.
The incident was reported to the ministry and a full investigation has been launched, an official said.