Students Chase Registrar - Over School Demolition

Susan Berry School Student Interviewed

The Registrar of Susan Berry School in Congo Town, amidst the demolition exercise said since the beginning of the week parents and students are fledgling muscles to attack her.

On Thursday morning angry students along with their parents gathered on the school campus in Congo Town issuing threats, and created road blocks that were soon dismantled by the Police. Motor vehicles and motorcycle taxis heading for central town sped slowly for hours in the hazy weather.

The Registrar Madam Janjayon Tarweh said she has constantly being threatened not only by parents and students but also youths and community members.

She added that of 270 students in the school the administration of the school was never notified about the demolition exercise which according to her took them by surprise.

"My life is at risk and I do not know what to do right now, the registration fees have all been taken away and I am so sorry for that," she sobbed.

According to her, LD$30,000 registration fees were kept in the Registrar's office and everything was ransacked as some students have already registered and the Police neither did the Court notify the school administration of the planned demolition exercise.

" I have over LD$30,000 in the office and Police came and ransacked the entire area as they threw away chairs and desks in my office; I am constantly under attack by other community members and even students of the school whose parents have already paid", the Registrar added.

Madam Janjayon Tarweh said some of the students who were on their way for entrance exams were shocked by Police officers who according to them were acting upon the order of the Paynesville Magisterial Court to first evict people from the school so that it can be demolished.

She noted that should the demolition exercise takes effect 22 teachers will be out of job and there is never going to be meals on their families' tables.

Madam Tarweh called on the government to bring the issue to rest so that children of school age can go to school.

Bendu Berry, widow, said since the death of her husband there has been no peace in the Berry Yard as those people that were reared by Susan Berry are now fighting them for his properties.

Madam Berry who said the school was constructed in 1960 to provide education to the Berry children's including others from the community; the demolition exercise is against the dream of Mr. Berry.

She used the occasion to call for the President prompt intervention in the school saga, adding: what is going on is complete violence".