BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AS Basseterre High School teachers continue their protest against what they believe to be unsafe working conditions, a petition they launched on Friday (Oct. 24) has been gaining considerable momentum.
The protest began last week Tuesday with a couple teachers and a number of students and over its duration, it has varied in the size of the gathering and at one point it was in excess of 65 students and 20 teachers strong.
Yesterday (Oct. 27) the protest continued with 10 plus teachers and parents who maintain that their health, the health of their students and their education are being put at risk because the environment at the BHS is unsafe.
In describing the purpose of the petition, the document outlines that it is “to focus our collective attention on the Basseterre High School Health Crisis in our continued efforts to protect the health and well-being of the students and teachers.
“We therefore demand an end to the interruption of the students’ learning and educational process in the long run, and to put an end to the growing number of students and teachers health issues which are continually being affected by the elements in the environment in the Basseterre High School…”
It calls for the immediate relocation of the school and it asks that discussions be held about the construction of a “new home of BHS”.
The petition, SKNVibes has been reliably informed, has gathered well over 500 signatures and when the required quantity of signatures has been acquired, the petition would be presented to the Chief Medical Officer Dr. Patrick Martin, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health.
Representatives of the BHS Parent Teachers Association have issued an appeal to persons to affix their signature to support the cause and affix their signature to the petition.
On each weekday, some teachers, and sometimes students, assemble hear the mouth of the BHS’ western gate in continuation of their protest and in solicitation of signatures for the petition.
SKNVibes understands that today (Oct. 28), teachers were again assembled at the western gate of the school advocating for a better working and learning environment. They have indicated that they would continue this action until a change is effected.
