Lenoval Morle

MONTEGO BAY, St James

Principal of Albion Primary and Junior High School, Lenoval Morle, will be petitioning the government to ban cell phones in schools.

"I am thinking of legislature," Morle told the Observer West. "Because I think that may be the only effective measure."

Morle's resolve comes in the aftermath of last weeks murder of Percival Crewe - a 14-year-old student of his school who was stabbed to death during the robbery of his cell phone - just metres from the school last week.

Morle said he would be writing to the Ministers of Education and National Security as well as Prime Minister Bruce Golding and the Attorney General to address the matter.

"Our country needs to take strong measures to protect our children," said an emotional Morle. "Telephone and school are not compatible and there are far too many people who are not prepared to speak adequately about the matter."

He said there was evidence of repeated attacks against students for their cell phones, which indicated it was a national problem and should be the impetus to ensure that the matter was taken seriously.

"This (Crewe's death) is not an isolated problem it's widespread" he said noting that the use of expensive phones by students made them a target by criminals.

He said Crewe - a model student - was one of too many lives lost and indicated that he would be suggesting that any law enacted be named after the 14-year-old schoolboy.

"We don't want Percival's life to go in vain," added Morle. "He possessed the potential to be a catalyst in his community among his peers."

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