Move them out

George Henry and Nadisha Hunter, Gleaner Writers

Several education stake-holders are calling for illegal vending activities to be stamped out at schools, saying they open avenues for students to become involved in criminal activities.

The calls came just days after Police Superintendent James Forbes pledged his support to assist schools in getting rid of shacks and vendors in proximity to institutions, especially those who sell illegal substances to students.

Yesterday, president of the Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools, Sharon Reid, said activities linked to vending have been a serious problem in some schools and must be urgently addressed.

"It is all well and good when the vendors say they need to make a living, but when you have a situation where you can't control what is bought and sold right at your school gate, that is a serious matter," Reid said.

"Young people are impressionable, they can be easily led, so under the guise of selling the bun and cheese, drugs can be there, illegal substances can be there and so I really look forward to the day when schools do not have to deal with that kind of situation."

She said while persons need to make a livelihood, it cannot be done at the expense of the nation's children.

Reid noted that her association was calling for vending in front of schools to be discontinued as it forms a serious breach which could cause numerous problems for students.

Similar sentiments were echoed by Marcia McCausland-Wilson, president of the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica, who said her group has been concerned about the issue for some time.

"We, as parents, have to be cognisant of the fact that we don't want our children to buy anything illegal," McCausland-Wilson said. "While we cannot say that it is the vendors who are selling the illegal items, because there are other persons who go on the compound, it has been of concern and we have to look all around and see how we can address the issue."

Discussions have begun

Forbes, in making his commitment, was addressing the recent Association of Principals and Vice Principals' 18th annual retreat at the Holiday Inn Resort and Spa.

He said he had already commenced discussions with relevant personnel in St Catherine.

"When I approach the buildings, the plants, I see very often mayhem in the environment of the schools. I see shacks of every description. People are selling drugs, people are storing knives and other contraband," noted Forbes.

He said it was his desire to remove all shacks from the vicinity of schools.

Forbes, however, stressed that he was putting forward a proposal, as he did not want to get into 'hot water' with any public official.

He said that if particular school authorities wanted certain vendors to remain at their facilities, arrangements could be made to have one or two of them formalised and placed on the compound in a structured way.

"If it is that you want that to be the case, I will ensure that proper background checks are done on such persons. I will ensure that the (parish) council provides a licence to sell; I will ensure that they get the required food handler's permit and I will ensure that they be given by the school an appropriate identification," Forbes vowed.

Special arrangements

He said he had already identified partners who have agreed to build branded vending facilities when the time comes.

"I am prepared to go that route and I have secured all that kind of structure," he said.

"I am also prepared, along with the parish council if we want to go to a plan B, for everybody to be removed from the precincts of the school."

Forbes added: "The (education) ministry and their legal people are now identifying and putting together a demarcation of a place called a school zone, and they will be then required to be outside of the school zone."

Audrey Williams, principal at the Denham Town High School, in endorsing Forbes' proposal, said she would willingly offer her institution as a pilot for the effort.

"I have written to other public officials as it relates to the vendors at the gate," Williams said. "I have a very small school which was built for 600 students. Now I am accommodating over 1,500. I am not into it with the vendors at the gate, and my role is not to check to find out what they sell."

She added: "I am done with talking to the other public officials. They already have my letters."