‘KPS emergency preparedness plan needs revision’

While there is an emergency plan on paper in the event of a fire or bomb scare at the Kingstown Preparatory School, Acting Headteacher Karol Ross feels that there are some areas of the school’s emergency preparedness that need to be looked at.{{more}}

One such area, Ross pointed out, was at the back gate of the school compound, where a vendor was positioned, getting in the way of pupils as they evacuated during an incident which occurred at the school yesterday.

“We need that space for something like this,” she said.

Ross also noted that the gate to the next door Grammar School Playing field was too narrow, and therefore inadequate in the event of a forced evacuation of the entire student body.

Ross made the comments following reports that electrical sparks had been seen coming from the school building, yesterday, Monday, May 14.

Ross told SEARCHLIGHT that the incident occurred sometime around 8:15 a.m.

She explained that she had just arrived at school, and was waiting in her vehicle for the rain to ease, when she saw the watchman from the building which houses the Hospitality Department of Technical and Vocational Division of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College and a parent come across and speak to the school’s deputy headteacher.

“I saw him run out in the rain; I thought he was going to his vehicle,” she said.

Ross said her deputy returned and after she entered the compound and inquired, she was told that some sparks had been seen coming from some wires on a section of the school building.

“Because there were children on the compound, we just asked all the children to go down to the lower building and enter the street for safety,” Ross told SEARCHLIGHT.

The fire department and electricity provider VINLEC were alerted and responded and the Bridges, Roads and General Services Authority (BRAGSA) was also called in, the school’s administrator said.

She refuted allegations that there had been a fire and said because the incident occurred at a time when students were just making their way to school, many heard the rumour that the building was on fire and decided to leave.

Ross explained that the relevant bodies did assessments and after the all-clear was given, classes resumed.

She said that she met with Nicole Bonadie-Baker, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, who had spoken to Thornley Myers, Chief Executive Officer at VINLEC, and other officials immediately following the incident.

“I am adamant that a total assessment be done, because we really don’t want these things happening again,” she told SEARCHLIGHT.

Ross said managing the situation was made more difficult, since the incident occurred before classes began, and it was difficult to control all the students leaving and entering the compound.

She said permission was granted to some parents who opted to take their children back home. (DD)