Last Updated on September 16, 2019, 12:33 AM AST by Anthony Morris
After the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) candidate for St Christopher 7, Mr Leon Natta-Nelson, accused the Team Unity Government of turning the mold problem into a “national disaster,” a primary school in Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris’ backyard was closed the following day.
“We have a mold problem in St Kitts. The Team Unity Government has made it into a mold disaster,” Natta-Nelson told listeners to Wednesday’s Issues programme on Freedom 106.5 FM.
First reports that the high-levels of mold was present in the Estridge Primary School, of attempts to cover it up and hide it from the parents of children attending the school and that the school was closed on Thursday 12 September, were made in multiple postings over a few days by a St Kitts and Nevis national studying in New York. The closure of the Estridge Primary School was confirmed by other sources on Thursday night and a letter to the parents was posted on social media on Friday morning.
The letter dated Thursday, 12 September, 2019 and sent to parents and guardians and informed that “there will be no school tomorrow, Friday, 13th September 2019.This is to facilitate a clean up at the school.”
On Friday afternoon, an individual wearing a protective clothing was photographed at the entrance to the school. Pieces of wooden furniture lay on the ground outside.
According to reliable source, the type of mold found at the Estridge Primary School in Mansion is said to be “deadly.”
“So who (is) going do something about the high levels of mold over Estridge Primary School? And the fact that they (are) trying to cover it up and tell the teachers must just clean and don’t tell the parents? Anybody who kids attend that school, I urge you to take your kids to be tested for blood mold levels. I for one don’t play with my children and it’s sickening that they continue to want to play politics with people health especially innocent kids. To the teachers, you too are accountable for knowing and not being proactive; when parents send kids to school they are suppose to be in the care of teachers and those teachers must hold that child’s best interest,” wrote Dabbian Jones on September 11.
In another posting on Thursday, Jones wrote: “No mold in Estridge School, but they shut down the school today after professionals came out and recommended mold is VERY PRESENT in the air quality, and the type of mold that causes respiratory illnesses and distress and nobody should be in that environment. Now they were urged to close the school immediately and properly close off the area to have it chemically treated. Wow very interesting! I urge parents to take their kids to get tested and don’t be complacent!”
Another source said Thursday, “a dangerous mold associated with liver complications was found on site.”
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
