Senior Reporter
otto.carrington@cnc3.co.tt
The Curepe Presbyterian Primary School is open and functioning.
Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, speaking in the Senate yesterday, said while there are issues at the school there have been no disruptions.
Hours before her response, St Augustine MP Khadijah Ameen said the school had been plagued with sewer issues.
In a statement, Ameen claimed a leaking septic tank created a “hazardous environment” for both pupils and teachers at the school, forcing classes to be dismissed early last Friday. The MP called on the Education Minister to intervene and complete the new Curepe Presbyterian School, which she claimed was abandoned after being started by the People’s Partnership government.
When Guardian Media visited the school yesterday, a parent who arrived to take his daughter home said some classes were dismissed early due to the smell coming from the sewer line.
“They told me that they had some issues at school, so I ended up coming to pick up. This has been an issue since last week Friday. They said that they sorted it out, but I don’t know what’s going on,” the parent said.
In a telephone interview, the president of the Parent Teachers Association Shaheed Mohammed confirmed “there were some minor disruptions” yesterday.
But Minister Gadsby-Dolly, responding to queries from Opposition Senator Wade Mark, said the sewer was being repaired.
“There is a sewer issue at the school that is being dealt with through the work of MTS along with the facilities department of the ministry and the regional corporation. The ministry has dealt with 38 such sewer issues from January 2024 to the present, and we continue to deal with them as they arise,” she said.
“The regional corporation has agreed to pump down the sewer, and that will keep the school operational while MTS does the scope ... and set about to do the repair that is required,” the minister added.
Gadsby-Dolly explained interim measures are in place to ensure the school remains open.