GREEN ISLAND, Hanover — President of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) Dr Mark Malabver has admitted that he did not explicitly raise the issue of sexual acts being engaged in by shelterees, in full view of students, when he spoke with Minister of Education Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon in March.

But Malabver is adamant that he was correct to not reveal the source of the then unconfirmed reports “for fear that individuals may be victimised” — an argument flatly rejected by Morris Dixon.

During a media briefing Thursday, Malabver insisted that he raised concerns with the education minister in a phone call on March 17 or 18. Asked during a later interview with the Jamaica Observer if the issue of the reported sexual activity was discussed, Malabver said, “No, it did not specifically mention that. But I said to the minister at that point in time: What we are hearing in some respects, if it is true, has the potential to violate the Child Care and Protection Act.”

Hours after the media briefing by Malabver, Morris Dixon said attempts are still being made to verify the claims by the JTA president and to take any action needed to safeguard students.

Morris Dixon also appealed to Malabver to provide information needed to advance the probe.

“It would be really helpful for Mr Malabver to just quietly tell us which school it is. There’s no victimisation of anybody. We don’t need the name of who reported it, or which teacher it was. I just want to know which school it is so that we can make sure that we are investigating and redoubling our efforts to protect our children,” Morris Dixon told the Observer after the JTA president’s media briefing.

Morris Dixon gave her version of the March conversation with the JTA president.

“In our last monthly meeting, Mr Malabver raised a concern about the teachers being uncomfortable with the presence of the shelterees. The day after that meeting, I asked the Parliamentary Secretary Marlon Morgan to go to every single shelter and meet with the teachers, the shelterees, and the principal and to do a report. He [Malabver] gave no specifics,” explained the minister.

“After that, I called him and I said to him that I sent Senator Morgan to go and check the schools since I don’t have anything specific. He said that, ‘Oh, he’s hearing things, and this may not be good.’ And I said to him, ‘What are those things you’re hearing?’ And he said he can’t tell me because he doesn’t know if they’re true. And I said, ‘Well, remind everybody that they have a reporting responsibility, like I have one,’ ” stated Morris Dixon.

Under the law, anyone knowing that a child is in danger has a legal obligation to report it. Certain groups, including educators, are held to an even higher standard of reporting.

“I have a reporting responsibility, and so everybody has to report, not to the police alone. They can report it to the ministry, they can report it to the police, they can report it anywhere. But it’s important that we don’t just sit down and see something happen to our children and we say nothing. We have a duty to report,” Morris Dixon told the Observer.

Earlier in Thursday’s media briefing, the JTA president insisted he had fulfilled his responsibilities.

“As president of the JTA and as a citizen of this country, I, Mr Malabver, have fully discharged my legal and moral obligation by formally bringing this matter to the attention of the appropriate authorities. That responsibility has already been met. The JTA will not divulge confidential information to the minister of education, the permanent secretary, or the [local government] minister, who I believe is supposed to be in charge of local affairs and, by extension, the shelter. None of these offices is the legally designated authority to investigate matters of this nature,” said Malabver.

In the meantime, the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, in a media release on Thursday, said all remaining Hurricane Melissa shelterees currently housed in school shelters will be placed in viable accommodations by May 8.

“Through the effort of the Government, as of April 9, only eight schools are currently operating as shelters, housing 81 shelterees. The $10-billion ROOFS [Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family’s Shelters] housing assistance programme, payment of rent for several families, repairs of homes, and other interventions have significantly reduced the number of families living in shelters.

“The final phase of our relocation exercise is being driven by our commitment to restore normalcy for both displaced families and the school community and to provide housing for families who cannot provide for themselves. Priority for relocation will be given to shelterees in Petersfield High School, which remains the largest remaining shelter following the passage of Hurricane Melissa. Approximately half of all school-based shelterees are at Petersfield,” said the ministry in its release.