All parties involved in the imbroglio at Jamaica College (JC) would do well to heed the advice of Mr Chris Williams, one of that prestigious school’s more outstanding and respected past students.

Mr Williams, the outgoing chairman of the JC Foundation, told this newspaper on Sunday that the current legal battle between former JC Old Boys’ Association President Major Basil Jarrett, the school’s Acting Principal Mr Wayne Robinson, and members of the school board is not worth it and is an ill-advised business move, both in terms of the cost as well as the damage being done to the school.

The individuals involved understandably feel aggrieved. Harsh words have been exchanged and charges and countercharges made. Usually in such a scenario people seek relief in the courts, and while we acknowledge their right to do so, we ask that they spare a thought for the students and the effect this long-running dispute is having on them.

JC has been in the public spotlight for the wrong reasons since 2021 when objections were raised within the old boys’ and parent teachers’ associations over the school board’s request to the Ministry of Education that a special leave granted to former Principal Mr Ruel Reid be extended by five years.

Mr Reid, who had been seconded to the Government in March 2016 to serve as education minister for an initial period of two years, is now before the courts, having been arrested in October 2019 on charges of defrauding the ministry and Caribbean Maritime University of millions of dollars.

That resulted in him being expelled from the Cabinet in March 2019. Eventually, in November 2021, he stepped down as principal with a handsome settlement of just over $20 million.

While there was some discord within the JC community over the settlement, it appeared that there was a genuine attempt to have the school settle down and get on with the business of educating students.

However, controversy over money raised through a school uniform programme has been dogging the old boys’ association, Major Jarrett, and the school board. The ensuing verbal squabble has been brutal, with some of the individuals claiming reputational damage.

Mr Williams, though, raises the issue of governance of the school, saying that what is needed is continuous stress testing of the structures, which he identified as the JC Trust, the school board, foundation, old boys’ association chapters, and the other fund-raising arms.

Mr Williams resigned as a trustee in March on what he described as “a matter of principle regarding governance of the trust”.

“It is the trust that should ensure all the entities are operating within their guidelines. So we have to manage that, and when we allow that, there must be sufficient reporting on how the use of the brand performed in financial reporting so that we can just make sure we are dotting all the i’s and crossing all the t’s,” Mr Williams said on Sunday.

He makes a valid argument which, we hope, will be accepted by the combatants in this dispute as it has been allowed to fester for too long.

No school should be operating in such a toxic environment. We believe the education ministry needs to get all the parties in a room and demand that no one leaves until the hatchet is buried.