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IT is heartening to see that the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has led the way in carrying out meaningful investigations into the Neesa Gopaul abuse case. Finally, we have an incident for which people are being held accountable. What is troubling however, is a report in the Stabroek News, dated Friday, October 29, which states; “Stabroek News has been reliably informed that the Education Ministry’s report… has revealed among other things that teachers at the school had photographic evidence of marks of violence on Neesa but failed to take them to the police or to the Human Services Ministry. It is not clear what, if any, actions are going to be taken against the teachers at the school but sources have revealed that there was evidence of a forged entry in a log book at the school – an attempt to cover-up the actions or lack thereof of the teachers.”
The Stabroek News report also stated that the West Demerara police ranks were unwilling to pursue the matter and acted only after almost being begged to do so.
While we knew all along that the human services ministry was not the only agency at fault, it was never clear to what extent the others were culpable. These reports now show that sinister actions were at play at the school Neesa attended, with teachers attempting to cover-up their inaction and indifference to the abuse of one of their students. It also exposes the ineptitude of the Guyana Police Force and their failure to actually ‘serve and protect’ the people of this country, particularly defenseless minors.
As citizens, we must pursue this matter to the very end and ensure that no stone is left unturned in rooting out teachers/police officers who have adopted a callous approach to executing their duties.
The human services ministry and Minister Manickchand has set the bar in this particular case for taking swift and decisive action to ensure a situation like this is never repeated.
I call on the Minister of Education, Minister of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force to follow in the footsteps of their colleague and take decisive action against those at fault in this case. Anything less would be a travesty.
Editor’s note-The Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon announced last week that the Head Teacher and deputy Head Teacher will be sanctioned
The Stabroek News report also stated that the West Demerara police ranks were unwilling to pursue the matter and acted only after almost being begged to do so.
While we knew all along that the human services ministry was not the only agency at fault, it was never clear to what extent the others were culpable. These reports now show that sinister actions were at play at the school Neesa attended, with teachers attempting to cover-up their inaction and indifference to the abuse of one of their students. It also exposes the ineptitude of the Guyana Police Force and their failure to actually ‘serve and protect’ the people of this country, particularly defenseless minors.
As citizens, we must pursue this matter to the very end and ensure that no stone is left unturned in rooting out teachers/police officers who have adopted a callous approach to executing their duties.
The human services ministry and Minister Manickchand has set the bar in this particular case for taking swift and decisive action to ensure a situation like this is never repeated.
I call on the Minister of Education, Minister of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force to follow in the footsteps of their colleague and take decisive action against those at fault in this case. Anything less would be a travesty.
Editor’s note-The Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon announced last week that the Head Teacher and deputy Head Teacher will be sanctioned
