HANOVER, Jamaica — President of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), Dr Mark Malabver, has strongly rejected any attempt to dilute or redirect attention from what he says is the urgent issue of removing shelter occupants from schools.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday at the Princess Grand Jamaica Resort in Green Island, Hanover, Malabver stressed that the matter goes beyond personalities or politics.

“This matter is not about personalities, bruised egos, public relations, or political theatre. Neither is it about the fact that the Ministry of Education has been left embarrassed by recent revelations.  It is about duty of care, credible risk and the protection of children and educators within spaces designated for learning,” he said.

The president was referring to concerns he raised at the first of a three-day JTA Education Conference 2026 that students were being given a front-row seat to sex acts engaged in by Hurricane Melissa victims who are still sheltering in some schools, months after the October 2025 storm.

“The conditions are deeply troubling. Reports of shelterees engaging in sexual activity within the clear view of students are something that everyone should be outraged about,” stated Malabver.

READ: ‘Deeply troubling’

Since then, questions have been raised about why the issue had not been reported sooner.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Education indicated that the concerns had not been raised during its regular monthly meetings with the JTA and that it had not been made aware of the seriousness of the claims prior to the conference. It, however, said the allegations were under review despite no confirmed reports.

READ: Education Ministry probing reports that students exposed to sex by people in school shelters

But on Thursday, Malabver told the press conference that any suggestion that these concerns were not brought to the attention of the ministry is wholly inaccurate.

Malabver said the JTA has raised clear, documented and repeated concerns regarding the use of school compounds as shelter facilities while those same spaces are being used for teaching and learning. He added that these concerns were formally communicated to the relevant state authorities, including the Ministry of Education, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), and the Ministry of Local Government.

“They were not speculative. They were grounded in credible reports, professional judgment and the association’s unambiguous responsibility to act where risk is identified,” stated Malabver.

“Let it also be stated without ambiguity: I have personally raised concerns with the Minister of Education, [Dr Dana Morris Dixon] during a telephone conversation. Specific issues and concerns were also raised in our monthly meetings of the Ministry of Education and in letters,” added Malabver.

As a result, Malabver said the ministry’s attempt to rely on the absence of “formal reports” or “confirmed incidents” is not only inadequate, but “it is dangerously dismissive”.

“Child protection does not begin at confirmation; it begins at credible concern,” he said.

The JTA president said it was equally troubling for the minister of education to request the name of the police station where reports were allegedly made, as well as the identification of the school involved.

“That request was also made by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Kasan Troupe. Such requests are most inappropriate, misdirected and betray a fundamental misunderstanding of how sensitive matters of this nature must be handled. It is not the role of the JTA to conduct investigations, nor to expose sources or institutions to scrutiny that may compromise the safety of teachers and students and due process. Neither are those roles vested in the minister of education or the permanent secretary,” argued Malabver.

“The JTA will not divulge confidential information to the minister of education, the permanent secretary, or the minister who, I believe, is supposed to be in charge of local affairs and, by extension, the shelterees. None of these offices is the legally designated authority to investigate matters of this nature. We will not facilitate the disclosure of sensitive information to unauthorised individuals, nor will we expose educators to risk under the guise of administrative inquiry,” added Malabver.

During Malabver’s presentation, he received the full support of educators present, including a display of spiritual backing on the platform from the president-elect, La Sonja Harrison and others.

— Anthony Lewis