BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - "All I am asking is that we find a solution to what is going on because it is not just about me, it is about all of us." This is the plea being made by one of the teachers at the Basseterre High School experiencing illness due to the resurface of the contamination issue at that learning institution.
Jenifer Williams, a teacher for some 25 years, gave this publication a detailed explanation of her experiences at the school with regards to its contamination.
She told SKNVibes that she first experienced specific symptoms in 2012.
"When I first started experiencing the symptoms, first my skin started to break out but I did not attribute it to the school. I went to a doctor, I changed my diet...I started exercising and that sort of thing.
"Then I had a cold and like anybody else experiencing a regular cold, taking your cough syrup, your vitamin C and so forth but it wasn't being relieved and every time I'm in class I have to be spitting up, asking excuse of my students."
Williams said she started experiencing bouts of dizziness, adding that one day she went home from school and realised that she was unable get up from where she was.
"I live alone with my daughter so if I am ill then I cannot look after her," she complained.
Williams told SKNVibes that the symptoms passed but eventually came back. She added that it was not as severe as other persons.
She said presently she experiences burning in her face around her jawline dryness, itching and flaking of her skin.
She told this publication that her coughing keeps her up and nights and "if I can't sleep, when it's time for work I am very, very tired".
She explained that she eventually visited a Doctor at Meridian Medical and after explaining what she was experiencing, she was prescribed medication.
"I couldn't even walk out of the doctor's office, I practically crawled out of the doctor's office," she said.
Williams said she now attributes her illness to the resurface of the contamination issue at the school, adding that when she is at home, she feels fine.
She said that there are persons who are tossing this issue about like a political football, noting that she is particularly concerned because matters surrounding people’s health should be dealt with as a matter of priority.
"Health is not political, health is not party partisan. They need to understand that person's health are being compromised. People are not feeling well and it's not like we just got up one morning and decided 'oh I'm not feeling well, my skin broke out like this'."
Teacher Williams explained that she made the bold decision to speak out because the Basseterre High School is the only common factor amongst those who are experiencing health problem.
"Persons who do not assemble in the same place other than this place, they are still experiencing these symptoms."
She stressed that those in authority should do thorough investigations to find the root problem which she believes is at the school. She suggested more tests be done until the problem is identified and a solution found.
"Do a thorough investigation and even if you realise that these were not found, then you investigate more," she said.
Williams said she understands that the school is more than 60 years old and that things are going to break down, but she stressed that something needs to be done in order to bring it back to a safe place.
She spoke of her love for the learning institution, the place where she has spent most of her teaching career. She declared however that she “would not die for Basseterre High School".
“I cannot speak for anybody else, I have to speak for me and what is going on with me and that is what I did. That is why I posted my pictures because people [are] saying all kinds of things... They can speak because they have not been experiencing what people have been experiencing...they are not there," the teacher said.
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