launches scathing attack on mould policy

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launches scathing attack on mould policy

http://www.theroyalgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

AID=/20061106/NEWS/111060113

Royal Gazette - Bermuda

By Neil

An MP wants those responsible for allowing CedarBridge Academy to

become infested with a dangerous mould to be fired.

A lack of diligence in the face of evidence that a major health risk

was emerging at the Island's largest school demands action and heads

to roll, according to Shadow Health Minster Louise .

And Education Minister Randy Horton, who found himself at the centre

of a national emergency only three days after being appointed to his

new role, last night pledged a thorough investigation to find out

what had gone wrong at the school.

While not being drawn on whether sackings will be ordered, Mr.

Horton said: " This is a very serious case and will not be looked at

lightly. "

Asked if the public will be shown the results of the investigation,

he replied: " I'm doing a complete investigation on the situation

every step of the way to find out what happened and why and I think

the public deserves to be informed. "

Mr. Horton paid tribute to workers who have been putting in long

hours over the weekend to ready facilities on Paget Island,

Darrell's Island and Port's Island so that 800 students will be able

to continue studies for the first three days before being given the

rest of the week off in the run-up to the mid-term break.

Tents have been erected on the islands to accommodate some of the

extra-curricular activities for students, although CedarBridge

principal Kalmar s said buildings on the islands would be

used for the bulk of activities.

In a live radio broadcast Premier Ewart Brown said CedarBridge

students heading to three Islands for classes today are to be given

free transport on buses and ferries to and from classes – providing

they are carrying ID – until their school reopens.

Addressing concerns about what might happen if students have an

accident or are taken ill while studying on the Islands, principal

s said there would be staff trained in First Aid and CPR on

each island as well as a pilot and boat ready to evacuate any ill

students.

According to Mrs. s, a cross-ministry initiative has ensured

that bus timetables will allow students to get to Albuoy's Point to

catch the 9 a.m. boats to Darrell's and Port Island, and the 9.30

a.m. boat at Ordnance Island, St. 's to reach Paget Island.

Students who normally walk to school should walk to Albuoy's Point

or alternatively go to the school to catch a bus.

Asked by the Royal Gazette if the old Berkeley Institute, which

closed July, might be re-opened to house the displaced students,

Mrs. s would only say: " We are in discussions and

deliberations about a tighter contingency plan. "

Quizzed on the same point, Mr. Horton replied: " That is not anything

we have not looked at. It may be a possibility if we have to go

beyond the mid-term break. We are looking at all the options. "

Criticism is mounting about how the health scare at CedarBridge was

allowed to grow to such proportions that it resulted in more than

800 students and staff being told to stay away from the school.

Despite the recommendation to do a clean-up during the summer

months, from Texas-based Microbiology Specialists Inc. it appears

little or no action was taken.

Shadow Health Minister Mrs. said: " I've never seen such

irresponsible, and in my opinion, criminal negligence on the part of

the Government's health and education authorities with regard to the

safety of our children.

" It is now very apparent through the documents which were printed by

The Royal Gazette last week that the authorities, and that includes

the headteacher and the former Health and Education ministers, were

aware of the problem. The buck stops with the two ministers. "

Mrs. said the evidence of " sick outs " affecting teachers and

students stretches back a number of years and was something that had

been raised by Shadow Education Minister Neville Darrell with both

former education ministers Terry Lister and Neletha Butterfield.

Referring to the US specialists' report, she said: " They said the

school should be closed, so there obviously was a problem.

" Government spent taxpayers' money to get these consultants in

there. If the Ministry and school all knew back in July why did they

not take the proper procedures and clean the place and have it

sanitised?

" They knowingly allowed students to return to school in September

and put them at risk. "

Mrs. said any professional person charged with not carrying

out due diligence in the matter should be " swiftly and severely

dealt with " and she added: " In other words, fired. "

She also feels the idea of sending displaced students to three

islands to carry on their studies for the next three days is " hare-

brained " . And Mrs. added: " I get the feeling this Government

has no conception of how to run a country. If this is how you take

care of the education and health of our children then God help us. "

Shadow Education Minister Mr. Darrell is also mystified by the

decision not to have the school cleaned-up during the summer break

after the specialist report was made in July.

" The whole matter has been profoundly mismanaged on a number of

levels, " he said citing the maintenance of the air-conditioning and

the failure to track the spread of the fungus and mould by the

school and the Education Ministry.

He said: " Someone has failed to be a proper steward of these

students. The students are the victims in all this. Someone needs to

be held accountable, it has spun out of control. "

Mr. Darrell said he had used his position as Shadow Minister to quiz

and prod the two former Education Ministers about the concerns he

was hearing regarding the school and had been given assurances

things were in hand only for the full-scale emergency to be

announced last Wednesday night on live TV.

And once the school is eventually cleaned up he has called for

Government to put itself on the line and hold a meeting or tour of

the school – or even a session of parliament – before any students

or teachers are told to go back into the building.

A full page advert in today's newspaper gives details of

arrangements for students during the next few days.

Parents and guardians can e-mail CBAmoed.bm, or call 278-3304 with

any queries or concerns. Parents who have changed their contact

details since the start of the school year are advised to update the

records by contacting the Ministry or principal s who can be

reached at 278-3303.