THE Guyana Police Force is maintaining its presence at a number of government and private schools in and around Georgetown, even as the threats from a person or persons unknown continue to make their way to the public space through social media.

On Tuesday, the minister of education summoned the commissioner of police and his team to a meeting, where the issue of security for the schools among a number of other measures were discussed. By Wednesday, the police had a presence at the schools but that was met with some hiccups, as the regional education officers for the respective areas to be covered by the police, were not properly informed.

This was due to the urgent nature of the measure, as the threats had continued and the police and the ministry were concerned about the safety of the students. However, on Wednesday, Commissioner of Police Leslie James said that the issue was sorted out and that the security measure was expected to continue uninterrupted. He stressed that on the first day of the police presence, the police had to be inside the schools given the nature of the security threats.

By the following day, the police were properly accommodated at the various schools identified and the Guyana Chronicle was able to confirm from a number of schools that indeed the police have been present. In addition, the police were patrolling the vicinity of some of the schools.

The measures became necessary after a number of online threats were levelled against the School of the Nations, a private school in Georgetown, where those making the threats vowed to “blow up” and “shoot up” the schools. The school was forced to close its gates and doors as the threat level was assessed, following the shooing of Mr. Brian O’Toole, the Director of School of the Nations.

Those threats have also caused the school to call a number of emergency meetings with parents and teachers, where the safety of the children was discussed.

On Wednesday, Commissioner James was asked about the capability of the police force to provide manpower for the schools identified. He responded that based on his report from the various divisional commanders whose officers are expected to function in those capacities, no reports were forthcoming about the unavailability of officers to cover the catchment areas.

With respect to the new threats which have surfaced on Friday against two government schools, namely The Bishops High School and Queens College, the police investigators were again called out. The police responded by checking the compounds of the schools, locking down the facilities and employing the use of sniffer dogs.

Those threats, according to ‘A’ Division Commander, Marlon Chapman, were being handled by the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters. The students of the schools were reportedly receiving the messages through groups and other social media platforms of which they are part. The meeting last Tuesday which included the Education Minister Nicolette Henry, her team and police officials, focused on not only the issues of the threats, but also the counselling for the students and teachers. The police have since questioned a number of past and present students in relation to the threats which were levelled against the school and also about the shooting of the school’s director, which took place on Sunday night last.