Dear Editor,

When I read your publication in the January 11 issue about the death of seven-year-old Nicholas Hamilton, I was overwhelmed with sadness. The youngster was killed when a goal post fell on him while he was at the Coke’s View Primary School in Westmoreland.

The report said that other students were trying to move the goal post while he was passing. An auxiliary staff member recalled on numerous occasions having to warn students about the danger of playing on the goal post.

My questions are:

(1) Why was this goal post not secured properly, since it was observed that children were moving it around? I doubt this was the first time they moved it as it was usual for them to play there.

(2) Was an audit done to identify and eliminate any threat as it related to hazardous material or substances, in accordance with the Ministry of Education’s guidelines?

The ministry should launch an investigation to ascertain the true events that led to this tragic incident and also determine if safety guidelines were followed. Appropriate action should be taken against any party found culpable.

In the future, the education ministry must establish and enforce a safety audit of schools at timely intervals to ensure compliance. I shudder to think how many other schools have “norms” that are just as dangerous or worse.

We need to be more proactive for the sake of our children. They are still our future.

David Lloyd

jordannelloyd@yahoo.com