ALLIANCE for Change (AFC) Activist, Patrick Roberts, who was reportedly charged last Friday with sexual assault of a minor, was yesterday dismissed with immediate effect from the Institute of Professional Education (IPE). Director of IPE, Fyaad Mohamed confirmed this yesterday when the Chronicle invited him to comment on the issue via telephone. He offered that the reputation of his school was at stake and hence the dismissal of Roberts.
Mohamed insisted that his students and their parents ought to be comfortable and that an investigation, he personally did, revealed that a few of the female students were uncomfortable around Roberts.
He informed that Roberts was not a disciplinarian at the time of his dismissal, but was simply someone who went around the school to ensure that lights were working; seating arrangements were comfortable, etc.
Mohamed said the students were very happy yesterday when they heard of Robert’s dismissal. He said the school is not prepared to tolerate any matter of this nature and assured that similar action will be taken again once an allegation of this nature has merit.
Roberts was once the Vice Chairman of the Grove Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and is currently the Chairman of the Grove Community Policing Group.
He reportedly carried out the offence on a 15-year-old student of the school, located at Market Street, Grove, East Bank Demerara, last Thursday.
The girl turned up in her uniform at the Police Station last Friday afternoon with her father and both of them spoke to this publication as Roberts remained seated ‘on the bench,’ in the station.
“This teacher tried to get at my daughter,” the father said, adding that he was asked to turn up at the Brickdam Police Station today.
The girl said last Wednesday, Roberts told her to collect his telephone number and asked her to call him at 8:00 pm, not later or sooner, and told her not to tell anyone of it.
On the following day, “He came up to me and was pushing his hands towards me. A girl sitting in front of me asked him why he was going to touch me and told him he always touching at somebody girl child. He asked her, like you want I touch you,” the girl said.
Asked if she was actually touched by Roberts, the girl responded: “Many times he always rubbing your hand or holding your hands.”
The father rejoined that his wife called Roberts who apologized to her, but asked her why her daughter took the number in the first place. The father believes that this question by Roberts showed that he had some kind of ulterior motive in giving his child the number.
He said Roberts told a 17-year-old friend of his daughter, who is also a student at IPE, that he wants to perform oral sex on her but the child is too afraid to come forward.
The father also lodged a report with the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, which he said will proceed with the matter based on what transpires at the station.