A picture of St Kitts Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF) soldiers on the campus of the CAYON HIGH SCHOOL frisking students with big guns on their backs, has created an outrage on Facebook and on radio, with claims that the soldiers with big guns do not belong in the school environment.
Comments on FB incude” … Those guys in the army do not belong on school premise with those guns. That could NEVER be a solution. That will not solve a thing. I do not know the facts either, but i know them guns don’t belong in school.”….and “Who is allowing these ppl on the school premises with these big guns?” …or “What about creating a school safety force instead of all of this aggression shown to children. This is pathetic”……just to mention a few of the comments on FB.
Freedom Fm Newsdesk spoke to Capt. Kayode Sutton of the Defence Force who insisted that in an effort to deal with gang related crimes in certain “hot spots”, the army maintained a 24/7 presence in Cayon, Mc Knight, Sandy Point and other areas.
“There is a 24/7 operation in Cayon because of security concerns. Young people are involved in crime, in fights, using drugs…. And so we have instigated stop and search in the schools as well. We pass through the schools to give assurances to school administration and students that the security is here to protect the community”, Sutton pointed out.
The public relations officer said that the Cayon school and other schools have always welcomed the presence of the army as it helps to secure the safety and security of all given the surge of criminal activities in Cayon. Sutton stated that the intention of the soldiers is to “create and sustain an atmosphere conducive to learning”.
Sutton declared that officers have found students with ice picks, knives, drugs and contraband during the search of students. Sutton assured that “people have nothing to fear from soldiers carrying out their investigations…it’s done professionally to ensure the safety of all residents in the school community and the larger Cayon community. It does not target anyone nor meant to disrupt community activities. We are aware of our responsibilities and we act as professionally as possible with the soldiers taking every precaution while searching the students….the soldiers sling their weapons over their backs”, Sutton insisted.
Freedom Fm called the principal of the Cayon High School Franklyn Morris and the Minister of Education Shawn Richards for comments , but was unable to contact them or get a response on this issue.