City schools half empty
Stabroek News
October 10, 2002
Barely half the students of most primary and secondary schools in Georgetown showed up for classes yesterday the first of a two-day shutdown called by several groups over the crime wave.
Checks confirmed that Queen's College, Bishop's High and St. Stanislaus College recorded a student attendance of approximately 46 percent while St. Rose's High had a generally poor turnout. This was also the case at both North Georgetown Secondary and St. Joseph's High.
When Stabroek News visited St. Margaret's Primary at around 2:30 pm, school was in session with just over 50 percent of the pupils there. But at Sacred Heart, St. Agnes, St. Angela's, Marian Academy and School of the Nations, there was generally poor attendance. Both Mae's Under 12 and the New Guyana schools remained empty throughout the day.
At Stella Maris, the headmistress told this newspaper to seek information from the Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEO), Georgetown.
The administrators noted that the full complement of teachers was present at the schools.
Crime shutdown
High turnout at government offices
The majority of public sector employees reported for work yesterday despite the call by sections of the business community for a total shutdown of the country.
At almost every ministry in the city, the permanent secretaries and personnel officers reported near 100 percent attendance, despite transportation difficulties in some areas.
Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon told reporters yesterday that he had been advised that public servants in Georgetown and the regions had responded as usual to their public service duties "and had all been at work". This was later confirmed by Public Service Minister, Dr. Jennifer Westford.
When Stabroek News visited the Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday, one senior staffer reported "100 percent" turnout; at the Ministry of Housing and Water, another reported " a full turnout"; at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the Administrative Manager said the attendance was "okay". She said if people stayed away, it would have been because they were in the field.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Doerga Persaud, told Stabroek News: "We had absolutely no problems, so far." There was a full turnout at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but some staffers told this newspaper that they felt forced to turn up, since a circular was issued on Tuesday, threatening the loss of one day's pay if they stayed away.