00:00The State Police Association of Trinidad and Tobago, the EPA, says it has taken note of the regrettable security breach
00:06at the San Juan North Secondary School.
00:09In a statement on Saturday, the EPA said, quote,
00:12However, the knee-jerk reaction to simply blame the MTS as state police officers must be balanced against the wider
00:19security conditions at the school, end quote.
00:22The EPA said that prior to this incident, it received security vulnerability assessments from its NMTS branch board, which identified
00:32San Juan North Secondary as requiring urgent attention because of its location and inadequate physical security infrastructure.
00:40The EPA stated that among the deficiencies identified were high bushes, holes, and weaknesses in perimeter fencing, poor lighting, and
00:49other vulnerabilities.
00:49The EPA further said these concerns were reported to NMTS management and the vulnerability assessments were also provided to the
00:59Ministry of Education for action.
01:00The Education Ministry acknowledged on Thursday the reported incident at the San Juan North Secondary School, which occurred on Thursday,
01:09September 10th, involving the entry of an unauthorized individual onto the school compound and the reported robbery of personal property
01:18from a member of staff.
01:20The Education Ministry said the police service is investigating the matter.
01:24The Ministry further said that it has initiated emergency works to address what it called an identified vulnerability along the
01:31rear perimeter of the school compound and added that the MTS, the National Maintenance Training and Security Company Limited, has
01:40been engaged to undertake the necessary remedial works to further strengthen the physical security of the compound.
01:47The Education Ministry added that through its health, safety and security services unit, it has also reviewed the school security
01:54protocols and continues to assess the arrangements in place with adjustments to be made where necessary.
02:00The Ministry pointed out that the San Juan North Secondary School has an established security presence, with MTS security officers
02:08deployed at full complement on the compound, including supervisory oversight by a corporal, and that school-oriented police officers are
02:18also assigned to the school.
02:20Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
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