Dear Editor,

I write with reference to the recent insufficiency, or substandard quality of water provided to the students of President’s College and the ensuing developments, highlighted in your article dated Monday, October 15, 2007 captioned “Kitchen Manager at PC fired.”

As a former student, I am disappointed at the lack of accountability and proper supervision of the welfare of the students, at a school which undertakes not to just educate, but also accommodate some of this nations most promising youths.

Minister of Education Shaik Baksh, stated that he was only officially informed of the difficulty with the water supply well after the problem had persisted for several weeks. He nevertheless expressed disappointment at the way the students expressed their grievances, preferring that they should have done so internally.

How does the Minister retain confidence in the effectiveness of the internal complaints procedure, when those tasked with ensuring the acceptable internal operations of the school, are those same persons who were delinquent in notifying him of their difficulties, in the first place?

In my recollection, the means of peaceful protest utilized by the students is one of the best means of highlighting one’s grievances when located in a self-sufficient school in the backdam of Golden Grove, beyond the radar of public scrutiny. Was it not until after the media were notified that the Minister addressed the problems?

What is even more disturbing is the way in which this particular occurrence has been handled.

Instead of acknowledging that the circumstances were mismanaged and focusing on possible solutions, the Board and managers of the school instead chose to engage themselves, with threats of expulsion, suspension and dismissal of those who aided or participated in the protest.

The Minister has now been provided the opportune moment to address these developments; it is my hope that there is a re- examination of the complaints and monitoring system within the school, so as to avoid a recurrence of the unfortunate events.

Yours faithfully,

Vanita Jaipaul