–says no class was in session, school was being prepared for graduation

CHAIRMAN of the Baracara Community Development Council (CDC), Marshal Thompson, has strongly refuted an article published by the online platform, “Credible Sources”, operated by APNU/PNC member Sherod Duncan, which claimed that pupils at Baracara Primary School were being displaced to make way for a political meeting.
The article, titled “Outrage in Baracara as students moved for PPP’s Pre-Election Meeting”, alleged that schoolchildren were put out of class to facilitate a meeting with Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha. However, Thompson has labeled the report “false and misleading”, and provided clarity on the circumstances.

According to the CDC Chairman, the meeting was originally scheduled to be held under a shed at the Baracara Health Centre, the same venue where APNU recently hosted their own meeting. Tables and chairs were set up in advance. However, heavy rainfall forced a last-minute venue change, as the original setup was soaked and could no longer accommodate the gathering.
With a large crowd in attendance, the nearby Baracara Primary School was considered a suitable alternative. Importantly, Thompson emphasised that no school was in session on that day, as graduation activities were planned for later. “The Department of Education’s records will confirm this,” he noted.

Furthermore, permission was granted by the school’s headmistress for the temporary use of a classroom, ensuring that the event would not disrupt any school activity.
“It is very dishonest of Mr. Duncan and his online page to suggest that children were displaced from a classroom,” Thompson stated, adding: “A simple call to the Department of Education in the region would have revealed the truth.”

Thompson went on to call for a public apology from Sherod Duncan and the “Credible Sources” platform to the residents of Baracara, noting that the misinformation spread online was an attempt to mislead and stir political controversy where none existed.

He affirmed that the residents of Baracara deserve truthful representation, not politically motivated misinformation.