SECURITY CONCERNS AT SAN JUAN NORTH SECONDARY

[00:00:01] Speaker A: The best insight Instant feedback Accountability the all new talk radio freedom 106.5 so [00:00:09] Speaker B: as I mentioned, the opening of the school term led to some schools being in some dilapidated states, some of them needing infrastructural work done on it this term we saw the reopening of schools much to be desired in terms of repairs and reformation as we did the previous year when we had 98% of the schools open with just a couple schools, one with electrical problem and another one with infrastructural work needed. So we're chatting with Mr. Kevin Kerr again, Industrial relations officer of tutor. Good morning sir. [00:00:43] Speaker A: Hi, good morning Mr. Murray. Thank you for having me on your program. [00:00:46] Speaker B: I appreciate your presence this morning as the industrial relations officer. The concerns with San Juan North Secondary, otherwise known as Book think that is called bookmalatris or something like that, right? Yes, that is clear that school is in question this morning and what is some of the. What is the concerns that teachers are having? I'm seeing where their school had been shot into the social media light where the teachers refused to come to school. There was complaints. Keep your children home. What is happening at San Juan North? [00:01:18] Speaker A: Right. I want to begin by saying that teachers of our people expect the quotas cold and feel safe and be safe. And if we cannot protect the educators of our nation while we are providing money onto our children and taking care, then what are we doing exactly for long Historical context of the situation at San Juan North Secondary. The teachers have been complaining for years not only about the lack of adequate security at the school but a lack of a proper perimeter of to keep intruders out and to keep them safe. There's already a shortage of safety officers at the school and the teachers have been doing their part to raise awareness of the lack of safety. The school as well as the principal who have been doing putting the information on the sims for the ministry for the past few years. So the ministry is well aware, teachers have been complaining for years about the institute of safety, lack of security, lack of proper perimeter fencing at the school amongst a whole host of other issues. I visited the school in 2022 and there are large parts of the school without electricity and it is still so to this day. We have the block known as the Tobago block where all of the tech work takes place at the school. So currently there is no block for tech school at all and not all students are academically inclined. So what are we doing to those students, you know, who cannot take part in the textbook aspect of the education at the School. All right, so there's issues with proper lighting, security, the fencing. There's a large, a large heap of bush at the back of the school which gives grants access to persons because there's no proper fencing at the school. [00:02:50] Speaker B: Interesting. So the fence at the school do we have. You all had situations where persons were actually coming into the school. [00:02:58] Speaker A: Right. So allow me to explain. Now, on Thursday 10th September, a teacher was at the back of the compound in a classroom and an intruder jumped the back. Well, they're not even jumped because there is no permit of fencing gateway. So they simply sauntered through the back of the school compound, proceeded to assault, accost and rob a female teacher at the school. She was told to lie down on the ground. Who knows what could have happened. The teacher then ran out of the class in question there and raised an alarm and the person escaped through the back of the school. The person was bareback and they had their jersey around their face to buck their identity. And they had an object in a bag that was pointed at the teacher's face. So we don't know if it's a gun or a knife or these things. So teachers, the teacher in question is very scared and rightly so because all of their information, all of their driver's, their car keys were stolen in the back that the intruders took. So the teacher is very scared and the entire staff is scared again as well. [00:03:57] Speaker C: Why? [00:03:58] Speaker A: Because it has been years that teachers have been complaining about the lack of security and lack of a proper perimeter fence at the school. So therefore the day after that teachers proceeded to do a refusal to work action. Right. So the law, the OSH Act, Sections 14 through 20 allows persons who are at an unsafe where their safety is threatened to proceed on. Refusal to action was the proper document had done correctly. And this is what the teachers at the school engaged in on Friday. This would have triggered the OSH agency to come and do a walk through at the school. And the OSH agency did a report afterward which justified the teacher's concern that the compound was not a safe place. And thus the ministry was forced to do repairs on the school compound, which they could have done all the years before, but only because it started a recruiter to work. This triggered the OSHA and Dr. Ministry to attempt to do repairs so that teachers can return to school to impart to the students. [00:04:57] Speaker B: Are we in a position right now where we are saying that the school's perimeter is still breached or has the. Because I know that remedial work wouldn't take place from the 10th to now, that is just about 11 days. [00:05:12] Speaker A: So yes, the school's perimeter is still bridge. Now, Tutor never wants to be seen as obstructionist to the process of education. So therefore, we will not allow our teachers to stay home for the entire period until the fence is fully fixed. So therefore, as a sign of good faith, once the works have started, once the work have commenced to secure the compound, there are additional three police officers on the compound there. And so this morning teachers will be returning to work to see what was done on the compound. However, we must note that if the compound is still not in an acceptable state for the upper safety of the teachers and students, then we will be doing another refusal to get precise at the compound of San Juan North Secondary School. [00:05:53] Speaker B: Has San Juan north, otherwise known as Book Malatris, has that school been designated as one of the schools for the SOPO operations? [00:06:03] Speaker A: I cannot say for sure. I do know it's a school of a school of seafood where there are officers assigned to the school because of the Right. [00:06:10] Speaker B: So that is the special. So that is the sopo. So that school has been designated as one of the schools where officers, police officers are assigned to. [00:06:18] Speaker A: That is correct, yes. [00:06:19] Speaker B: These police officers, they come out in what, four, two, three. [00:06:24] Speaker A: The school currently has three officers that are not precepted and they are supposed to patrol the component, these things and assist with the safety of the students. [00:06:33] Speaker B: This is police officers or MTS officers. [00:06:36] Speaker A: Right. So I want to make a clear distinction here. These are three police officers not precepted. No, not perceptive. The school itself has safety officers. However, we do not have a full complement and we only have one of these if the officers present now. So we would like back the full complement of the officers at the schools to ensure. [00:06:52] Speaker B: All right, you're confusing me and assured listeners. Confused. So we police officers, all of them carry fire, could carry a firearm. So the order of preceptor does not apply to them if they come with a right. So we can't say. So you have to say if it's three unarmed, meaning they're not carrying a sidearm, a gun in layman terms. So these three officers don't carry guns, but they are assigned to the school and they are supposed to patrol the school. [00:07:23] Speaker A: Yes, Mr. Murray, these officers, these police officers who are in school do not carry weapons. [00:07:28] Speaker B: Right. So that's understanding. [00:07:29] Speaker A: Patrol the school. [00:07:30] Speaker C: Right. [00:07:30] Speaker A: They patrol the school alongside the school's safety officers and which is separate from the MTs as well. So I want to make the clear distinction between the security guards at the school, the safety officers and the police officers. [00:07:45] Speaker B: Right. This, this incident took place while the school was already assigned to police. So the police officers was already there. [00:07:53] Speaker A: That is correct. [00:07:54] Speaker B: And this incident took place to the [00:07:56] Speaker A: back of one of the school is one of the largest schools in the country. It is a very large compound and there's inadequate security to properly. [00:08:03] Speaker B: That's what I'm thinking. Well said. Well said. That's what I'm thinking because I know this school pretty well. Okay, so we have security breaches. So based on between that time to now, 11 days, would you say that the police service, the Toronto Baker Police Service have ramped up or ramped up their security personnel on the compound? Did they add additional officers? [00:08:26] Speaker A: Right, so no additional officers were added on the school compound as well. However, in meetings with the Ministry of Education and several other large stakeholders, we agree that patrols would be done outside the compound of the school. So we would have police roaming the area on both the inside and the outside of the school. [00:08:44] Speaker B: Because I'm thinking with the, you know, the vast expansion of the area which the school is located, if we patrol in, by the time the police pass and walk and head past the area and go on, another intruder watching in the shadows can run up, breach the perimeter again, cause harm to somebody or distress another individual and have chance to leave before an alarm is raised. So I'm wondering if they would have a permanent fixture to the back there, you know, where there is a watchful eye while the fence is being erected, even to protect the workers that is erecting that perimeter fence. [00:09:20] Speaker A: And you are very correct, we had the same concerns as well, because if you look at the layout of the school, there's a hill to the back of the school because there is no proper perimeter fence. There's a lot of bush. So persons can in fact stay on a hill from afar and spout the school and see when is the most opportune opportunity to go out and make an opportunistic robbery and these things. So that is why we are having the more patrol on the outside and the increased patrol of the safety security officers and the police to make their regular rounds around the perimeter of the school. Now, we know that this isn't foolproof, but it may play a part in helping protect while the ongoing works are being carried out to restore the perimeter fencing at the school. But we are very concerned about our safety of our teachers and we don't want to see teachers stay home, we don't want to see children stay home. We don't want to obstruct the learning that takes place place in schools, but however, we must have our nation's teachers safe at all costs. [00:10:16] Speaker B: I don't disagree. The one thing that I'm still concerned about is the regular patrols there. With a patrol it means there's going to be an unguarded moment where quick action can be taken. I'm concerned, I was hoping to hear you say we are going to ensure that at least two officers are stationed to the back keeping that watchful eye because once you walk at Satalia, you could walk every 10 minutes as you pass, 10 minutes later you pass back, we are nine minutes, you have eight minutes where a lot of things can take place and I'm concerned about that. So I hope by my intervention, well, us chatting this morning, you all can seriously get those in authority to keep that watchful eye. Because I'm even concerned for the people that come into work on defenses. [00:10:59] Speaker A: Mr. Murray, you are concerned as well because we have the same concerns because the school currently has a safety complement, a security complement, I should say of a one by five. Now one. One by five means one corporal, you know, and four other constables with him. However, once again, given the size of the compound, teacher have a lot of concerns, you know, with that same patrols, with that same safety because persons can look from afar and see when is a good time. So we want constant patrols at the back of the school where the infringement is. And if this is not made present at schools today, we may take further action against it because the schools will still be compromised. And that is the main concern, that we have the safety of the staff. [00:11:40] Speaker B: Correct. I want, I want a booth erected to the back there, an area where the officer can feel safe in the, in weather conditions or even to brace from the heat that is coming upon us with the sun. And I want them stationed there. This is David Murray on Freedom Radio putting out that call to those in authority stationed, don't walk and then come back, stay there and watch. [00:12:01] Speaker A: And Mr. Murray, we have several contemplative as well. Because the teacher was robbed and accosted at the school, there is no longer EAP for teachers. There is no longer eap. So whereas before teacher could have gone before, you know, and have this, this facility paid by, by the state as it's supposed to be, it no longer exists. Now I must say that the ministry did make provisions for the teacher to be counseled at these things and for all teachers to be counseled, you know, through their pac. So unit. However, we Are concerned still about the lack of EAP for our teachers. [00:12:34] Speaker B: I agree. Let's look at other. Okay, so that security concern that trumps everything else, to be honest, because I often say to those, even those in authority from the minister come right down to the cleaner in the government ministries. All of them want to go home, to go in an office space or in a work environment where they feel safe. But you want our teachers to be in a school to do a job that is critical for the next generation. Critical. That is a very, very critical job because they are responsible for edifying the youths and bringing them to academic success so that they too can turn around to be good, upstanding citizens of the country. And if these teachers cannot walk into their offices, which is the classrooms, and not feel a sense of safety, how can they do their job? Let's look at the other remedial works that took place at the San Juan North. Talk to me on that. [00:13:34] Speaker A: Right. So given the. At this school, the staff had several concerns that they wanted addressed at the school. So this included having the 50 to 60ft on either side of the fence to be cleared of grass and trees because there are a lot of blockages to the fence there and we need to have a buffer zone where we can see. So these grass, these store grass need to be cleared as soon as possible on the fence. There is no light in the back of the school. So at night person can enter the compound and steal things that have been done as well. The staff is requiring a one by eight complement instead of a one by five because that is too small for the. For the vastness of the school compound as well. The election of a security anti crime fence as well instead of the regular enter was around the compound and armed presence of police officers during the repairs of the school. All right. Including with that was also confident for the victim, the staff and students at school who are affected and the full complement of safety officers to be had at the school as well. So these are the several concerns of the staff and we are adamant that these things must be put in place before teachers can feel safe at this school. [00:14:46] Speaker B: Teachers will resume their duties at the school this morning according to your notes. Right? [00:14:52] Speaker C: Right. [00:14:53] Speaker A: So let me make this clear. The principal routes and ask staff to come out of school. And because section 20 of the OSH act, once immediate work has been done at the school and the principal asks, teachers are required to come out. So once again teacher would not be obstructionist to progress at the school. However, when we go to the school compound this morning, we will be looking for certain things for particular particular things so that no shortcuts could be had to make sure that the safety of the school is to the fullest extent still at the school this morning. [00:15:21] Speaker B: Based on your information, do you have any insight as to whether perimeter remedial works have commenced or is it still being tendered for a contractor? Have you all seen anything within the last week? [00:15:37] Speaker A: Yes, actually visited the school twice last week as well and we have seen where work has commenced before to borrow certain areas of the school. However, this morning, go again and see exactly the remit of the work that was done to see if enough work has been done to warrant the opening the reopening of school seats once again for teachers and students. [00:15:56] Speaker B: All right, great, great information. Let me take this call quickly. Good morning. [00:16:01] Speaker C: A pleasant good morning, Davy and Anthea guest and I understand the passion that he has is from Tutor, right? [00:16:06] Speaker B: Yes. [00:16:07] Speaker C: I am suggesting, I mean we are living in a modern world with technology and so on. If it is that the entire perimeter is properly camera with someone at the monitor throughout the day, throughout the period, and if it is, we were to have two police officers or one police officer together with our MTS guard, and if it is that it is shown on the monitor that here were the intruders, I think that they could get into action immediately and I feel that that can go a long way. I wish to comment. [00:16:40] Speaker A: I thank you. [00:16:41] Speaker B: All right, so in the absence of being able to have a fixated watchful eye by a human presence at the back, this caller was suggesting that based on the technology available to us in the world today, cameras could be installed with a constant monitor. Eyes on that monitor. So some from the time somebody breached the perimeter coming across the, you know, evasive action can be taken. Has Tutor considered this? [00:17:05] Speaker A: That is an excellent idea and we did consider this. However, due to the electrical issues at the the school, especially back at the school, those places are a great hindrance to mounting cameras in the back because there were already cameras there and because of the electrical problems at the school, they were forced to be taken down and dismounted. So you see the vast number of issues currently at the school, not just security, but electrical as well, which hampers security on the whole at the school. [00:17:32] Speaker B: How long has this fence been needed? [00:17:34] Speaker A: Ah, I have been to that school since 2022 and it was the same issue there with the fencing. It was the same issue there with the security, it was the same issue there with the electricity. So it is at least five years now where the school has had the same issue regarding the perimeter fencing. And I suspect it's a lot longer than that as well. [00:17:53] Speaker B: I went to a football match in that school FET match. They had it at the school grounds there. And I was taken aback. And this was maybe three years ago when I looked at the perimeter on the external back to where the mountain is touching and I thought to myself, anybody can come through those areas and breach the school perimeter. And here we are, three years later, it has happened. Is this the first time the school would have been attacked by external forces? Meaning that Was the school ever broken into, robbed outside of the teacher that had that unfortunate incident recently? [00:18:37] Speaker A: Mr. Murray? The school was robbed on a number of occasions in the past. And we feel vehemently that it's only now because our teacher was assaulted and accosted and because the staff still in solidarity, she would have acted reactively in this situation to remedy the issue at the school. And I am disappointed in the ministry and let me tell you why they started the refusal to work. The issues could have been resolved all the time at the school with the years before. But the moment they started the refusal to the ministry, we would have heard that they would have contested or appealed the OSH inspectors reports and forcing the chief inspector to do another investigation at the school. So instead of admitting the school has structural and safety deficiencies, they wanted to challenge the teachers to get them to come back out to work without properly addressing the safety issues at the school. [00:19:25] Speaker C: Wow. [00:19:26] Speaker A: Disappointment with the ministry. [00:19:28] Speaker B: Wow, wow. [00:19:29] Speaker A: Everything redounds to safety. Once you have safety, you have teachers who can work comfortably and efficiently and allow our students to be very productive in their exams and be upstanding members of society. [00:19:41] Speaker B: I understand. I have concerns now about the electrical problems at the school. Could this. Isn't this posing a dread hazard in terms of electrical fires, persons and students being shocked by exposed wires? How bad or deteriorated has the electrical infrastructure the school been and has TNTEC been contacted? [00:20:03] Speaker A: Because large sectors of the school have been without electricity, it has been turned off in those areas. And that is why there is no techvoc block available at all. When I say techvoc block means this affects everything from woodwork, metal work, auto mechanics, all of these things that the students who are not academically inclined can do. So we are essentially taking away their livelihood. When these things are down, how long [00:20:27] Speaker B: has this been happening? How long has these things been down? This electrical problem? [00:20:32] Speaker A: From what I can say, I've been at the school the last time since 2022 and since then nothing has Happened since. [00:20:39] Speaker B: Are you. Are you. [00:20:39] Speaker A: Are you. [00:20:40] Speaker B: Are you kidding? Are you serious? So since 2022 the entire tech block has been down. [00:20:48] Speaker A: We can one north. [00:20:49] Speaker B: We are in 2026. Have you. I mean okay, we were under the tutel. Well, the. The presidency was held by Martin Lumpkin at that time. What was being done with the Ministry of Education then to seek some kind of intervention for remedial works to commence. We had this school was among schools opened in the last 12 months ago. When school reopened in September 2025 and fit for work. We was fit for schooling and everything. I mean we were happy about it. The president of the npta, Walter Stewart was on the program and we talked about it. And you are telling me since 2022 under the former minister, we had no remedial works where electricity for the tech voc department is concerned? [00:21:35] Speaker A: No, sir, I'm telling you since way before that I've been to school last in 2022. Now Twitter has been consistent and unw wavering in its commitment to safety at the school. We believe that it's only because something has happened to a member of staff. That is why only now all of the concern has been drawn to the media and these things. And we are very glad for the. For the concern. It is unfortunate to the teacher, but we are glad that this has raised awareness of the issues at the school. [00:22:04] Speaker B: I am taken aback. [00:22:09] Speaker A: It is not only this school, you know, we have several other schools that are grave cause for concern, you know, including arango's north and Mount Hope and St. Joseph secondary and these other schools that have grade issues as well. So infrastructure is a dire concern for the ministry in the schools at the present day as well as well as a lack of furniture throughout most schools in Trinidad and Tobago. [00:22:31] Speaker B: What is the remedial works as far as you concerned was done. Forget the electrical, forget the perimeter fence. Let's talk about basic remedial works at the school in preparation for this academic year that is now currently before us. What sort of remedial works took place as far as you know, as far as tutor know at San Juan North Secondary. [00:22:55] Speaker A: Right. So as far as I know they were barring off the compound of one of the blocks to prevent access from any back. However. However that that does not include the entire perimeter fence. We don't want a part of the fence fixed. We want the entire perimeter fixed properly. Because guess what? If it is not there is still the school cannot be a safe place of work. So we want the entire. So as fast today when we go this morning we will see what work has been done thus far. But as far as we are, only a portion of one of the blocks have been boarded around so it cannot be accessed by the outside of the perimeter. [00:23:29] Speaker B: You make mention of other schools having the same problem with the TechVoc department, Arangwez North. What have you all earmarked the other schools where lack of infrastructure? Well, I know San Juan north is electrical. What about equipment for the machine shop, the lathes for the woodworking section, auto mechanics? What is happening at the other schools that you all are aware of besides [00:23:54] Speaker A: there being problem with electrical as well? We have issues with constantly arising now more than ever where copper is still being stolen at school. So schools are being targeted potentially for the lack of proper security and we have AC units, copper wire and a whole host of other things being stolen from school and taking years to be replaced. And that is the issue. The proper security and the lack of time it takes to be replaced at the school severely hampers the education of the children at the school. [00:24:22] Speaker B: What happens in the evening post school hours? Well, we know the officers will not be there, the police officers, that is, they would have, you know, gone home and what have you. How many personnel to secure the school or to ensure that intruders do not vandalize the school are there during the hours when school is out till school commence the next day. [00:24:47] Speaker A: Right. So we have asked for increased security at the school, the MTS security for the school itself. In addition to that we have asked for increased put of the police officers on the compound, around the compound after school hours to ensure that there's less break ins at the school where there is the compromise, tension and perimeter and these things. The ministry would have heard our request and they have tried to put things in place. However, we are not certain that these things will be put in place as soon as the school resumes this morning. So this morning we will find out exactly how much has been done in that regard for the additional police safety. Roaming officers. [00:25:26] Speaker B: Look out for a call from me tomorrow morning. [00:25:29] Speaker A: Lovely. [00:25:29] Speaker B: I will be calling you back tomorrow in this same hour or maybe in the third hour, but I will try to get you in as early as possible because I want an update. I want Trinidad to be able to get an update to what you would have unearthed when you make your visit to the school this morning. I want to get feedback from the faculty, how they feel, whether they're going to come out. I'm going to be speaking with you again tomorrow. [00:25:54] Speaker A: Let me leave you with this. Twitter will not rest until the safety and security of our nation's teachers is not compromised in any way at all. [00:26:04] Speaker B: I believe you. I hear the passion in your voice. I thank you again Mr. Ke, for chatting with me this morning. [00:26:11] Speaker A: The best insight, instant feedback, accountability. The all new Talk Radio Freedom 106.5.