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Sweets which made students sick were imported illegally - Tufton

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton, Principal of the institution Suzette Barnes Wilson, SSP Dwight Powell, Bishop Herro-Verne Blair,
 
Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has revealed that the sweets sold to students of Ocho Rios Primary School, which led to them falling ill, entered the country illegally.
 
Sixty-five students from the school were rushed to hospital on Monday after consuming sweets purchased from a vendor outside the school gate.
 
Dr Tufton, speaking on Radio Jamaica's Beyond the Headlines, said no authorisation was given for the product to enter Jamaica.
 
He added that there's no record of the product being approved to be sold in Jamaica.
 
Dr Tufton revealed that the National Council on Drug Abuse will be conducting testing of the product to determine its ingredients.
 
Meanwhile, five of the 65 students remain hospitalised after consuming the  sweets.
 
The Health Minister and Education Minister Fayval Williams visited the hospital in the wake of the children being taken there after falling ill.
 
Dr Tufton said the students suffered from major dehydration and hallucination after consuming the product.
 
Dangers
 
Arising from Monday's incident, administrators at Ocho Rios Primary will be sensitizing students about the dangers of purchasing items from unknown vendors. 
 
Principal of the institution Suzette Barnes Wilson disclosed that classes are expected to be held as normal on Tuesday, despite Monday's incident.
 
Mrs Barnes Wilson promised that the administration will ensure the safety of the students.
 
Investigation
 
Regarding the investigation that will ensue, Senior Superintendent Dwight Powell, commanding officer for the St Ann police said a team of detectives has been assigned to probe the sale of the product to the students.
 
He is asking the male vendor to report to the police.
 
Review
 
The organizaiton, Parents Alliance Jamaica, has also responded to the incident at Ocho Rios Primary, repeating its call for a review of safety and security protocols across all public schools.
 
According to the Alliance's Chairman, Bishop Herro-Verne Blair, more needs to be done to better monitor and manage the surroundings of public schools.
 
He said on Monday that safety can only be enhanced when policy makers are serious about creating sterile environments for children.
 
Bishop Blair said the Alliance remains steadfast about the full roll out of its proposed reforms, demanding standardized security protocols, including CCTV coverage and perimeter fencing around all public schools.
 
Bishop Blair also said established safety standard for public schools, including ystems to authorize and monitor those vending and associating around school compounds, must be strictly enforced.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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