By Cathy Richards
Parents of Wismar Hill Primary School students are incensed over an overflowing septic tank in the school compound, which they worry poses a health hazard to their children.
Members of the school’s Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) told Stabroek News that the Region 10 Department of Education needs to be proactive in addressing the problem. According to a group of disgruntled parents, matters pertaining to their children’s health and well-being are being taken too lightly by the education authorities. “I know the Head Teacher can’t talk to the media because they are going to blaze her. But the truth of the matter is that she has been calling the Education department a long time about this issue and they are doing nothing. I understand that she even sent a letter to them last week about this issue,” one parent said.
Stabroek News understands that the problem started sometime in January of this year and was reported to the Department of Education by the Head Teacher. A regional officer is expected to visit the school today to determine if the situation is serious enough to warrant a temporary closure until it is rectified.
When this newspaper visited the school, the Head Teacher explained that the Department of Education has to give her permission to allow pictures of the site to be taken. She didn’t comment on the matter. However this reporter was taken to a private resident’s backyard, where a clear and close view of the area was possible.
On entering the yard, the stench emanating from the overflowing septic tank was unbearable. “You see what we have to deal with due to the negligence of the Ministry of Education. Dis smell tek over me whole house. If you ain’t know that is dah septic tank in de school yard people would believe is nasty I nasty,” an occupant of the house said.
From the backyard, a substance could be seen flowing out of the septic tank, forming streams in the school yard. School was still in session at the time and a few children were seen playing in the area. A group of boys were seen picking up pebbles from a spot close to the smelly fluid. They were throwing them at each other. Other students ran through the liquid, clearly unaware of the possible health risks.
It was said that teachers try their best to keep the children away from the area but a number of children are still seen playing in the area regularly. The situation is further compounded by persistent rainfall.
The site is very close the school’s building. “I have my child attending this school and recently I haven’t sent her because almost every day she comes home with a headache and talks about the smell affecting her,” one parent complained. Another said that her child is asthmatic and complains that the smell causes her to sneeze a lot and this affects her sinuses. All the parents asked to remain anonymous in the interest of their children.
PTA members said that the issue was first aired on the local NCN News last week and it was subsequent to that the Department of Education began to show interest in the situation. The newscast quoted the Regional Education Officer (REdO) Marcel Hudson as saying that the matter would have been reported to the Regional Executive Officer (REO) Henry Rodney, who would have to take the necessary action. On the other hand, Henry was recorded as saying that he will deal with the matter when Hudson informs him through the correct procedures. “We didn’t want to raise this issue in the national newspaper but when the authorities are going to be responding in such a manner we are left with no choice but to call in all the media houses so that we could get some recourse,” a parent commented. Her view was echoed by several other parents and concerned residents.
When Stabroek News attempted to contact Hudson it was told that he was out of office. However, the newspaper was told that the department became aware of the situation from the local newscast and that Hudson had subsequently brought it to the attention of Rodney.
But Rodney, in an interview, said that he was informed about the situation after it was highlighted on the news and he was subsequently told by Hudson last week. Rodney added that Hudson had committed to investigating the situation after which an official report was going to be made. Rodney said that he was disappointed that no one mentioned the issue before since he had been in the area several times prior. Cevons Waste Management was summoned to attend to a number of similar situations under the Region’s jurisdiction and, according to Rodney, Wismar Hill would be included on the list.
Rodney plans to visit the school today and said that if the problem is found to be of a serious nature, “I would suggest that the Department of Education closes the school until it is rectified.” Nonetheless, he is hoping that the waste management company visits over the weekend when the situation could be corrected, alleviating possible down time for the school.
