Retirement Primary on edge amid repeated invasions by mentally ill man

 

School administrators at Retirement Primary in Maggoty, St. Elizabeth have issued an urgent call for assistance from the authorities following repeated invasions of the school by a mentally ill man.

 

The machete wielding man has been threatening the lives of staff and students.

 

He was arrested Tuesday following a brawl with personnel after he invaded the school, but was later released after being treated at hospital.

 

In 2022, the man was arrested after he attacked and chopped the then principal of the school, who has since retired.

 

Speaking with Radio Jamaica News on Wednesday, Principal Leon Chisholm expressed outrage at the actions of the police who he said have refused to lay charges against the man in question.

 

Mr. Chisholm said the staff, students and wider community are living in fear.

 

"Nobody walks on to a school compound wielding a machine with good intentions, and this has happened the sixth time. When we speak to the police, they're telling us basically that nothing can be done. So I am trying to figure if they're going to wait until this gentleman kills somebody before we really have some decisive action," suggested the principal.  

 

"Six times within a two-year space, this man has come on the compound and create the same mayhem.... Now if this person keeps doing this, you can imagine the amount of fear and panic that this man continues to generate and nothing is being done. As soon as he goes to the station, he's back in the community. So whenever this happens, the students are living in fear," he lamented.  

 

Only half of the school population turned up for classes on Wednesday morning due to the tension in the community.

 

The principal noted that most of the students have to walk home and must pass the home of the mentally ill man.

 

Mr. Chisholm said he, along with board chairman Herman Samuels, is collaborating with the Ministry of Education to develop safety plans for the school.

 

Members of the community said they are concerned about the safety of their children and are also calling for the authorities to take urgent action.

 

"You can't have one man, one single man a destroy the school and the population of the community!" one resident bemoaned as she called for the Prime Minister to address the matter. 

 

The Ministry of Education has said it intends to install fencing around the school.