-education officer unaware of shortage
A month’s supply of food stuff was provided to the Port Kaituma Secondary School dormitory yesterday, three days after the children who occupy the facility were sent home because of the lack of food.

Regional Education Officer (REDO) of Region 1 Darrel Krammer, while reluctant to speak on the issue, said that a “boat with foodstuff was sent to the school yesterday [Sunday].”

Asked if there was indeed a food shortage at the dormitory, Krammer said he was unaware of it and that he would have had to check with his sub-regional officer. About the students leaving the dormitory on Thursday and Friday, Krammer said it was week end and a long weekend was approaching so most of the students left to go home.

However, this newspaper was told that because of the distance and transportation cost most of the 40 students who occupy the facility remain there until the end of the school term. “There was a shortage of food and the REDO is fully aware of it,” one parent told Stabroek News yesterday.

It was pointed out that it was following a meeting between school officials and regional officers that a decision was taken to send the children home last week Thursday. Only three of the 40 students remained at the facility over the weekend.

Reports were that business persons in the area refused to provide food to the dormitory on a credit basis as it is difficult to get payment, which sometimes takes months. This newspaper was told that the issue has been a long standing one and ever so often the dormitory would run out of food stuff. The food stuff was taken into the area from Mabaruma, Stabroek News was told.