Government ‘intolerant’ of school protests

Oct 11, 2013 News

With the use of words the likes of “abominable” and “objectionable” Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon, yesterday warned that Government will not be tolerating the new dimension of protest actions that have occurred recently at a number of schools across the country.
And in order to dissuade the perpetrators of such actions, Dr Luncheon disclosed that Government has made the decision to ensure that policies are enforced whereby those protesting could see themselves being charged and prosecuted.
His remarks were forthcoming even as he hosted Post Cabinet Press briefing at the Office of the President.
Dr Luncheon told media operatives yesterday that Cabinet saw the need to discuss the new phenomenon of school protests, which according to him, have been “aided, abetted (and) instituted by leading members of the political opposition.” And even as he alluded to the involvement of at least one Member of Parliament in a school protest, the Cabinet Secretary hinted to the possibility of the continuance of such practices noting that “we all listen to the old people and they say ‘monkey see monkey do’…” However, he noted that “we have no reason to believe, certainly we have absolutely no reason to believe, that his action represents extremism, represents a departure from convention, and is unlikely to be repeated.”
But according to Dr Luncheon, tolerance to such activities will not be part of Government’s responses to school protests.
“Tolerance doesn’t enter into the remit of the Ministry of Education and the Government,” he asserted, adding that “it is best to put in place mechanisms to avoid…prevent the repercussions or repetitions, than to address these matters any other way.”
He underscored that the blanket approach that has been proposed and would be adopted by the Ministry under the guidance of Cabinet, in relation to protest actions, have certainly taken other matters of concern into consideration.
According to him, while legitimate matters of concern in the school system will be addressed, such matters will be dealt with in the absence of the specific forms of school protests to which Cabinet has objected.
“We had difficulties in accepting schools being invaded, schools being the subject of trespass, restriction on access by locking gates and in general, disrupting classes…I think those objections remain reasonable and have indeed prompted the Government’s and Cabinet’s decision,” said Dr Luncheon.
Moreover, he noted that Cabinet will continue to be supportive of the Education Ministry’s efforts to discourage students from protest activities during school hours.

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Government ‘intolerant’ of school protests

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