BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – MINISTER OF EDUCATION Hon. Shawn Richards has made an emotional plea for the public to cooperate with the police in an effort to locate missing teen Leanna Napoleon and to desist from spreading rumours.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday (May 22) to update the media and the nation on efforts being made by the Ministry of Education and the Police Force to locate the 17-year-old, Richards said that officials at his Ministry are deeply distressed and concerned about Napoleon, who is still missing.
“It is very alarming for me that a young lady could be missing in our Federation. I have been praying for her well-being and her safe return. And I am praying that she would be located very soon,” the Minister lamented.
Richards, who met with the teen’s family members, noted that he is lost for words to describe the feelings of those close to Napoleon, who has not been seen since she completed her EDPM examination over two weeks ago.
The Ministry of Education has been in touch with the family and remains very supportive of them as well as her friends during this profoundly challenging time, Richards told reporters.
“I am making a very urgent and passionate appeal to those who may have information that could assist in her, Leanna Napoleon, and to those who are aware of her whereabouts of this missing teenager.”
Since the teen went missing, information has been circulating on her whereabouts and it was rumoured that she was last seen with an uncle, but the police have confirmed that she was not with him.
Sergeant Lyndita Powell of the Special Victims Unit explained that according to information received by investigators, the teen was last seen in the company of her brother who she went to uplift an envelope with money from the sale of a family vehicle.
Minister Richards in his plea said: “If you know something please say something to the authorities!”
He reminded that it “could be anyone of our sisters, daughters, nieces, cousins or friends. And in such situations we would want those who have information to help and come forward. It is also imperative that I also appeal to desist from disseminating speculations, gossips and other fallacious [information] that only serve to increase the distress of the relatives and friends of Leanna, and that also serves to frustrate the efforts of the authorities in their investigations”.
“We cannot be incentive to the plight of the family and friends at this time, neither can we continue about our business as if this grave situation does not exist and remains unsettled in our nation. Citizens, I am therefore appealing to the good nature of our people and that brotherly and sisterly love for which we have been known, let us be more sensitive to the feelings of each other and more civic minded in our words and deeds,” the Education Minister added.
Principal of the Basseterre High School, Maurice Benjamin described the teen as a smart and hardworking student, who was not or showed any sign of depression.
He declared that fifth form students are troubled at this time as they await the safe return of their classmate, and that guidance counsellors are working to have them calm and refocused on their exams.
“The problem that the school sees is that at this time persons in St. Kitts feel that it no longer takes a village to raise a child anymore and that we no longer concern ourselves with people’s children,” Principal Benjamin opined.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Vincent Hodge pointed out that the Ministry would be looking to maintain the awareness to have the missing teen return.
According to Minister Richards, they are continuously reviewing regulations in relations to students and incidents occurring in various schools.
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