Ultimately, we only want what’s best for the students at Bishops’ High School

Nov 28, 2017 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
As a follow-up to our previous statement regarding the allegations of sexual abuse at Bishops’ High School, and centered around a teacher abusing young students sexually, we are aware that this matter has been referred to the police. We commend the Ministry of Education for their swift actions and continue to follow this investigation very carefully to make sure that it is prosecuted vigorously by the law.
Our immediate and over-riding concern however, is to the current student body of the school who have all in some manner been traumatized (and stigmatized) by this matter. Our message to them is this: We are here for you and we will do whatever is within our power to ensure that you are provided with the necessary tools to prevent predatory behavior of any sort, including avenues to report any such conduct to the relevant authorities.
Our alumni associations in conjunction with concerned members with expertise in psychology, child welfare, social work and law, are actively working to ensure that this never happens again. We have made recommendations with regard to Harassment, Sexual Abuse and Bullying that are being coordinated with others in Guyana with the hope that these measures are adopted by the school.
The outpouring of emotion that this incident has evoked from the alumni body and other concerned citizens, has been truly inspiring. It shows that we all want to do what’s right for the students – the very nature of being your brother’s/sister’s keeper and the ethos of what our alumni association stands for. Though there are varying and sometimes heated opinions on how we get there, the message is clear: We want this to end now; those responsible prosecuted; and this to never happen again.
It cannot be stressed enough that we do not feel confident that the children who have been made to feel unsafe or traumatized, will now come forward and report these incidences in their current environment. It is troubling that the students did not feel comfortable confiding in any of the teachers at BHS. That is why we would like to see the headmistress placed on administrative leave and a thorough and independent investigation of this matter concluded before a decision is made about her return. We quite simply do not think that the Ministry of Education has gone far enough. Ultimately, we only want what’s best for the students at Bishops’ High School.
Chapter Presidents of BHS Alumni Association

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