BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A number of male students of Cayon High School, who were allegedly smoking cannabis sativa on Thursday (Oct. 22), were reportedly frisked by members of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF) on the campus of the learning institution.
This publication was informed yesterday (Nov. 7) about the incident which was posted on Facebook with the photograph of two soldiers, with rifles slung over their backs, conducting searches on a number of students.
A number of people have since posted comments on Facebook. One of them reads: “Those guys in the army do not belong on school premise with those guns. That could NEVER be a solution. That will not solve a thing. I do not know the facts either, but i know them guns don't belong in school.” Another reads: “Who is allowing these ppl on the school premises with these big guns?”
According to an article posted on Freedom FM’s Facebook page, that media house’s news desk had spoken with the SKNDF’s Public Affairs Officer, Captain Kayode Sutton, who reportedly explained that in an effort to deal with gang-related crimes in certain “hot spots”, the army is maintaining a 24/7 presence in Cayon, McKnight and Sandy Point, among other areas.
“There is a 24/7 operation in Cayon because of security concerns. Young people are involved in crime, in fights, using drugs…And so we have instigated stop and search in the schools as well.
“We pass through the schools to give assurances to school administration and students that the security is here to protect the community”, Freedom FM quoted Sutton as saying.
The media house noted that Sutton also said Cayon High and other schools had always welcomed the presence of army personnel as it helps to secure the safety of all, given the upsurge in criminal activities in Cayon, adding that the intention of the soldiers is to “create and sustain an atmosphere conducive to learning”.
It also noted that the Public Affairs Officer declared that army ranks had found students with ice picks, knives, drugs and contraband during searches, and that “people have nothing to fear from soldiers carrying out their investigations…it’s done professionally to ensure the safety of all residents in the school community and the larger Cayon community”.
Speaking with a resident of the Cayon community who claimed to have knowledge of the incident, SKNVibes was told that an individual had seen a group of male students smoking marijuana and had reported the matter to the Principal of the school.
The resident also said that while the individual was heading towards the Cayon Police Station to report on the incident, “they met some soldiers patrolling in the area and they told them what they saw”.
The resident continued: “The soldiers then went to the school and conducted a search of the students who were identified in the presence of a teacher. They did not find any illegal drugs on the students but their clothing and hands reeked of marijuana. They were then taken to the Principal’s office and their parents were summoned to the school.”
The resident also stated that the soldiers were attached to the Cayon Police Station, which was confirmed by the Acting Commissioner of Police, Stafford Liburd.
Contacted yesterday afternoon, Liburd told this publication that soldiers are collaborating with the police to provide safety and security throughout St. Kitts and Nevis.
“We have members of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force working closely with the police in various areas within the Federation. One of those areas is Cayon for which we are grateful as they lend support to safety and security to the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.”
This is not the first time that students of Cayon High School have been on the police radar.
In late October this year, footage of a fight between two female students of that school was being circulated in the Federation via WhatsApp.
In that footage, one of the girls had stripped herself of her uniform and remained in her undergarments during the fight, which took place within a room of the school.
This publication learnt that the two students were disciplined by the school’s administration and the matter was investigated by the police.
