Education minister to meet with Hampton school admin
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Education Minister Senator Ruel Reid is to meet at 1:00 pm today with administrators of the Hampton School for girls, whose principal has become embroiled in the controversy surrounding the alleged carnal abuse and rape of a 15-year-old St Elizabeth girl, by a minister of religion.
Speaking a short while ago at a press briefing at Jamaica House, Reid was guarded when asked about the tone the discussion is expected to take.
“At the end of the day when matters impact the leadership and governance of an education institution I have to be held accountable and in that regard persons who preside over institutions have to be accountable to the minister. There have been a lot of public discussion on the matter and I feel that, as the (education) minister, I need to have a discussion and give some direction as to the way forward, ” he told journalists.
A statement is to be issued after today’s meeting.
At the same time, Reid urged the public to be cognizant of the sensitive nature of the case.
He stressed that the risk of further harm to the 15-year-old and her younger sibling is “significant” based on financial constraints and the mother’s incapacity to protect them from people who may try to take advantage of them.
The child in the rape case and her 13-year-old sibling, have both been placed in a children’s home as investigations continue.
Reid also noted that the Government would be making a significant increase in the budget to children’s homes for the upcoming fiscal year.
Alphea Saunders