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  • 9 months ago
The troubling issue of drug transactions and gang influence in the nation's schools was brought to the forefront during a public hearing of the Joint Select Committee on Social Services and Public Administration on Friday. Here is more in this report.
Transcript
00:00Charlene Hicks-Rayburn, president of the Association of Principals of Public Secondary Schools,
00:06made a startling revelation about the presence of illicit activities within school compounds.
00:12Some of those fights that may occur as well are the result sometimes of, let's say, transactions
00:22that have gone awry.
00:26There are some schools where there is the sale of marijuana and drugs.
00:32The Association's president further explained the challenges in curbing such activities,
00:37despite stringent entry protocols designed to prevent contraband from entering school
00:43compounds.
00:44You can try as much as possible to have entry protocols.
00:51We are requested to ensure our entry protocols are very sound, searches and so on.
00:58But there are times when marijuana is on the compound, there are some transactions.
01:03And students are being targeted by individuals who are being asked to sell on other members
01:13there.
01:14And the police are involved because the TGPS has reported in the past that they are as
01:18young as 9 and 10-year-olds who are affiliated to gangs.
01:23JSC Chairman and Independent Senator Dr. Paul Richards also weighed in on the issue, questioning
01:30the extent of gang influence within schools.
01:33But gangs don't just go someplace just so gangs have an agenda, they look to make money
01:39or whatever it is and influence new membership, unfortunately.
01:44So that's what you're seeing, they're in the schools to sell drugs.
01:48I'm not saying that, I'm saying that is some of the scenarios and some of the reasons that
01:55you will have these issues.
01:57Ms. Hicks-Rayburn emphasized that the broader socio-economic environment plays a role in
02:02the behaviors observed in schools.
02:05We have to be realistic and we have to appreciate that our students come from respective communities
02:15and in certain schools where you have students, there are issues of gangs in communities and
02:24some of these students will in fact, are students in schools where they come together and there
02:32are sometimes incidents where there is some rivalry within the schools.
02:41She said principals and school administrators face significant challenges in ensuring a
02:46safe learning environment.
02:50And it is the principals, I know administration, one of our biggest concerns or challenges
03:01has to do with ensuring the safety and security of all on the compound and as far as possible,
03:09keeping certain elements at bay.
03:13Although you may not have all out rivalry, let's say, but we do have some conflict at
03:22times between students who are from differing areas.
03:28And there are sometimes within the school attempts by students to take areas and you
03:37have to make sure that your compound is free from that as far as possible.
03:42The revelations at the JSC hearing have underscored the urgent need for greater intervention by
03:47the authorities to address the growing threat of gang and drug-related activities within
03:53the nation's schools.
03:55Aksha Galston, TV6 News.
03:58For more information, visit www.fema.gov
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