Hon. Kelvin Simon, M.P. for St. Mary’s South, is calling for increased security measures in schools to ensure the safety and well-being of students, teachers and staff. Following an incident involving gun violence at the Clare Hall Secondary School, Simon is proposing the installation of metal detectors in schools. He is also calling on the government to immediately deploy police or defence force patrols, on all school compounds, in an effort to curb growing violence.
According to the former school guidance counselor, the government has done very little to arrest the surge of violence in schools. He alleges that many teachers have reported having to break up fights and are concerned about their own safety. He is calling on the Prime Minister to immediately install safety teams trained to respond to emergencies, on all school compounds.
“Going to school has become risky business in the lives of our children, teachers, principals, staff and even in the lives of parents who drop their children off to school,” Simon said. “The government has been asleep at the wheel when it comes to the welfare of our children and teachers. I am calling for P.M. Browne to immediately mobilize a task force to include the Commissioner of Police and the head of the defense force and other stakeholders,” Simon added.
M.P. Simon is also calling on the Ministry of Education to develop and implement a comprehensive “Safe School Plan.” It should ensure that school compounds are protected with perimeter fencing and that entrance gates are equipped with a security guard booth.
Simon believes that legislation must be introduced to enact a “Safe School Protection Plan” within school zones, to enforce a Zero Violence Policy. He recommends the policies are enforced with specific, harsh punitive consequences for possession of a gun, knife or other weapon on school property. Committing an act of physical violence against other students or staff, being caught with drugs or alcohol on school property are some common activities that should be addressed by the Zero Violence Policy.
“Let us act before it’s too late. All parents, students, teachers, school staff, and members of the community need to be a part of this initiative to support a safe school environment. Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) and other school-based groups can also help to identify the problems and causes of school violence and come up with possible solutions for prevention,” Simon stated.
As a guidance counselor with 14 years of experience, Simon has created a “10-Point School Safety Checklist to Prevent Violence in Schools.” He will present elements of his plan to schools, sporting teams and community groups. The plan recommends specialized training for the police, defense force, teachers, staff, students and parents in violence prevention. It also suggests that anonymous reporting systems be established for students to safely report concerns about violence or mental health.
The St. Mary’s South representative believes that crime reduction begins with the creation of a supportive school environment, where students are taught to treat each other with respect, and thereby feel less inclined to engage in problematic behaviors. He also suggests that teachers, staff and parents receive ongoing training to recognize warning signs that a student might be at risk of violence. Simon believes that there needs to be ongoing communication and discussions between all stakeholders to set clear behavioral norms for the classroom.
“We have a lot of work to do and the government must allocate more resources to prioritize the creation of safe school environments with zero tolerance of violence. As a community, we must organize and sponsor student-led activities that promote anti-violence, such as peer education, mediation, and mentoring. We must also create opportunities for students to openly discuss their fears and concerns about violence,” Simon added
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MP Simon I commend your proposals to make our schools safer. Very good and proactive approach by you.
Damani have more backbone than you.!!!
WELL LAWD. Lastnight Miss Knight expose all UPP DIRTY LAUNDRY for all to see. Now the people them vex with serpent fu allow Miss Knight to diss he own party so much. Just know that Lipstick Hag not happy at all. MASS EXODUS CONTINUES……MORE RESIGNATIONS TO COME.
Damani gwine spill more beans on jtruth on Thursday night! UPP cannot overcome its troubles. CRUMBLING AT THE BASE!!
Popcorn ready for when Damani Tabor expose all the juciy details to Jtruth!
Oh shut up!! Where are the PARENTS??? The buck stops with them. They are responsible for HOME TRAINING not the government, not teachers or any other organization
P.S – remember it was Azara Lavia who had to teach you how to read your SCRIPT from Man Cow. What an embarrassing press conference
What a Dunce comment to a well sort out plan.
“…students are taught to treat each other with respect…”
this begins at HOME, not with the school! Cahrity begins at home, not with Shoogy or Gaston.
De winkup preacherman trying hard to get de spotlight off him and his wannabe marriage and greencard application.
Just like how he can criticize, a so people can criticize and scrutinize he. Hope he can handle it and nah cry fowl. Now is he in a MONOGAMOUS relationship or not????
school children know it all!
It’s the way of the Labourites. Never anything to offer,just mudslinging, name calling and dunce rhetoric.
These are excellent suggestions. The security guards posted at schools are primarily women,who are concerned more with their own safety. The implementation of police/ defense patrols would simply reinforce security.
Again,like a stuck record,the ministry of Education has done nothing, but wants to assure the public that schools are safe. The incidents in the last week, leaving them scrambling for solutions is typical of the ministry of education.
To the dunce Labourites, the government has to be held accountable. Look,because of the economic poor house we live in,most parents have to moonlight to make ends meet. So instead of the normal parental supervision, children are left unattended for long durations.
Good suggestions Shuggy, but we all know the DAWG and his cabal. They’re so arrogant, they’ll scoff at this.
I donated a box of metal detectors to the police and more has arrived since May 2024 that I have attempted to donate to the police force at that same in which they, Police, had me waiting for so long outside in the heat when I had only 2 days left in Antigua, causing me to walk away and not get to donate the additional metal detectors, diving gears and attached cameras, projectors, reflector vest, vehicle, laptops, radar gun (speed detection), and a whole lot more items. Ask Deputy Commissioner of Police and rude officers at the front desk of headquarters. I had to wait outside in the heat to donate to Antigua police and government because I wore a shorts that day.
I was in the presence of Mr Kelvin (Shuggy) Simon’s company at the annual”Root of Bolans” dinner dance.He was the guest keynote speaker.His oratory lacked contents;simplistic in deliverance and filled with “political incorrectneess”…..”pampers for seniors…. est of a park equipped with slides for youth and senior”Mr Simon’s speech fell short but he had his ”whine” locked in. He was girating!!
will the good MP also “tackle” his MARRIAGE and be that nice God-fearing family man for the Nazarene church too?
My comment is not based on politics because I could care less for politics, but with the amendment of the recent laws with youths, I wonder if the government whether it is the current or opposition has planned for housing these young boys when their mothers abandon them or relinquish parental and guardianship to avoid being charged or fined. I am sure no one has thought about that, but soon when many young people try to defy these amended and new laws, parents will abandon them. It is already evident the Boys Training School is not adequately structured or staff trained to deal with these modern day young boys. So what is the proactive plan instead of being reactive. In my past time working at the Boys Training School many young fellas who were housed at this facility were abandoned by their mothers, they were sent to the Boys Training School and turned into children of the state, so does the government have funds sets aside to house and feed an abundance of young boys who will eventually become children of the state when the parent or guardian is going to face accountability. Food for thought.
This platform would be great if we could exchange ideas instead of slinging insults about , Jamaican wives, baby daddy’s, man cows, the list goes on.
This country is in real need of a reset and the more we indulge in this kind of rhetoric and behavior, the harder it will be to fix our problems. Ask yourselves, why do whites call us “monkeys”, we clearly don’t look that way . However, it’s not hard to figure out, when we treat each other like this, even thought they have do much worse to us. You say goodmorning and hello to them, treat them like royalty. Meanwhile we beat down our own for trying to get ahead the right way. We would rather support Chinese and Syrians than our own for fear they get ahead. Let me tell you all something, the desperation is around the corner and that will bring more anxiety and strife. The crime will increase and the young will rebel. This will lead to a failed state and the loss of our paradise. It’s not to late to change this coarse.
Whether it’s UPP or ABLP, it’s not as if they have to govern millions of people. Infact a 120,000 is a football stadium in some countries. We are slipping and people are coming in, to take over. We are not far from a country the rich will come and call it a playground. Taking advantage of us and our children.What will you we do then. I will tell you, you will sit there and take it, along with the scaps, as there will be nothing else you can do. Do you think other countries are going to care to help us when we can’t even manage ourselves.
Let stop the nonsense and work forward for Antiguans. Unless some of you forget who you are.
Come like your brain needs a reset for real with that nonsense u spewing.
Best mind you don’t end up like the main character on “The Wire” frfr
A run you mouth and nah know nutten!!!
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