PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) — The Director of the Department of Education (DDE), Jean Marcel Jeanty has arranged the continued closure of schools in the Grand Anse area following last week’s arrest of the newly elected representative Guy Philippe, who has since been extradited to the United States on drug related charges.

Jeanty said the students had already been placed at a disadvantage following the passage of Hurricane Matthew last October and the closure this week has led to a further disruption of their studies.

He said he planned to meet with the police to discuss how they could ensure the safety of the children in order to allow the resumption of school activities.

Philippe, 48, entered a not guilty plea Friday morning to drug smuggling and money laundering conspiracy charges that carry a maximum life prison sentence.

Read: UPDATE: Haiti coup leader pleads not guilty in US drug case

He was indicted in the United States in 2005 on one count of conspiracy to import narcotics; one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and engage in monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity and one substantive count of engaging in monetary transactions derived from unlawful activity.

Ever since his arrest last Thursday as he emerged from participating in a radio programme in the capital, supporters of the newly elected senator of the Department of Grande Anse, have been staging daily demonstrations demanding his return.

Most of the schools in the Grande Anse department have been closed since the start of the week with parents keeping their children at home as a result of the street protests.

Earlier this week, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Cholzer Chancy, said Parliament would adopt a position on the extradition of Philippe.