STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS TRAUMATIZED.

Classes were suspended today at the Scarborough RC Primary School in Tobago, and the school will remain closed for the next three days following an incident when a nine year old girl was assaulted by a 20 year old man.
At around 1:30 this afternoon a 20 year old man ventured onto the school’s compound brandishing a knife he grabbed the girl and took her into a cubicle near the toilet area where he allegedly assaulted her. An alarm was raised and officers from the nearby Scarborough Police Station responded and were able to rescue the girl, the man was then apprehended by Corporal Quamina and is presently in police custody. Reports said the girl was taken to the Scarborough General Hospital for treatment.

The secretary of the division of Education, Youth and Sports H. Cadett says that a full investigation into the incident has been launched. He says that occurrences of this nature would not continue and that they would work with the Roman Catholic board to ensure the safety of the children which is of paramount importance. Security arrangements for all schools, however, are presently being reviewed especially at the primary level. Cadett says that school supervisors and counselors responded quickly and are providing counseling to the students, teachers and parents.