TWO of the stained glass windows on the eastern side of the historic St George’s Cathedral at Company Path, Georgetown, were vandalised during Phagwah celebrations when students of the St George’s Secondary School got out of control.What seemed to have started as a simple cultural observance at the school at about 13:00hrs escalated to a missile throwing incident with students filling bottles with water and hurling them from the school compound located north east of the historical building in the direction of the building.

Pleas from the school administration and the Verger at the cathedral were ignored and the police had to be called to intervene.
The lone policeman who responded was unable to immediately contain the situation as the students continued to hurdle the improvised missiles, resulting in damage to two of the stained glass windows and one of the newly-installed windows on the eastern side of the cathedral. The head teacher and teachers present during the incident seemed reluctant to intervene.
The damage seen on the priceless stained glass windows showed the protective mesh on the outer part being damaged and parts of the glass missing.
The St George’s Cathedral has been working with the school which is managed by the Ministry of Education to assist in providing meals for the students who are less fortunate.

The vandalism came as a shock to members of the church and the public who were in the area and they expressed disgust at the behaviour of the students.
(By Raymon Cummings)