Vandals mash up Brac school

| 12/12/2008

(CNS): Vandals appear to have entered Cayman Brac High School classrooms by tearing off louvered shutters before causing enough damage in eight rooms to shut down the school at the end of the first week that all students had returned following Hurricane Paloma. In one classroom a small fire had apparently been started on one of the desks, and foam from fire extinguishers covered everything in several of the rooms vandalised. (Left: Police inspect evidence)

The monitor of one computer from the computer lab was found in the sink in the boys’ bathroom, and the perpetrators had also apparently left taps on in the bathrooms, which had not only flooded the bathrooms but had also run the cisterns dry. It is believed that one or more of the vandals had urinated on a teacher’s chair and a container with what may have been diesel was found. Furniture was thrown across classrooms, books scattered and posters ripped from the walls.

According to the Ministry of Education, the damage, which reportedly occurred late  last night was discovered as students arrived at the school this morning. Alden McLaughlin, Minister of Education said he was shocked and disappointed that the school could be the target of such an act of wanton vandalism.

“Destroying the school, at a time when the Cayman Brac community is trying to recover from the devastating blow it received from Hurricane Paloma is particularly heinous” he added. “It is my hope that whomever is responsible will be identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Chief Education Officer Shirley Wahler explained that the vandalism had caused the school to close. “Due to this act of vandalism the Department of Education Services had no option but to close the school today at 9:00 am and send all of the students home. Schools are at the heart of a community and to strike out at the Cayman Brac community in this way, at this time is unconscionable,” she said.

“I do however want to thank our teachers for their assistance and unwavering dedication to the welfare of our students during yet another difficult time, and assure them that every effort will be made to once again restore the classrooms so that students may continue their learning as soon as possible. Further announcements will be made to keep parents and teachers informed of when school will re-open and in the meantime we will be keeping the Cayman Brac High School and the community in our prayers.”

Despite the damage, it is thought the school will re-open onMonday.

Cayman Brac High School re-opened for all of its students for the first time since Hurricane Paloma on Monday 8 December. Years 7, 8 and 9 joined Years 11 and 12, who have been back at school and focussing on their important exam classes since Friday 21 November and the Year 10 students who returned Monday 24 November.

According to the Ministry, sufficient repairs have now been completed at West End Primary School to facilitate its reopening, but in light of the proximity to Christmas, West End Primary School, along with the other primary schools in Cayman Brac, will formally reopen in the New Year. For the remainder of the current term, the camp-based activities that have proved a successful interim measure for the past two weeks will continue.

Learning Community Leader for Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, Tammy Banks Dacosta, explained, “With significant assistance from the Department of Education Services, we have been able to help our students move through the healing process. In addition to receiving some education provision, primary age students have also been enjoying lunch and breakfast.

With clean-up and construction crews working often at weekends at long into the evening, it is hoped that all schools will be ready by next week.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    This is sad i am a student of CBHS an as a young person this kind of act should not go on in the brac a the 10 11 and 12 are supposed to take hi exmas an how can they concitrate with all this going on. WHAT I THINK THEY SHOULD DO TO THE PEOPLE THAT DID THIS ARE:

    • MAKE THEM PAY THE SCHOOL BACK FOR THE DAMAGE
    • MAKE THE HOLD COMMUNITY BEAT THEM WITH A WIP
    • MAKE THEM WORK 5AM TO 9PM
    • MAKE THEM CLEAN THE SCHOOL GROUNDS FOR A LONG TIME

                                               THEY SHOULD MAKE THEM SUFFER

    BY:A STUDENT OF CBHS

    HOPE IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN

  2. Anonymous says:

    Dear Lord, what will happen to our year 12 students? Their exams are coming up so fast, and they’ve missed so much school. These vandals obviously don’t have any soul at all. They should be severely punished. This is causing so much stress here on Cayman Brac. My heart breaks for all the students, but year 12 needs the lessons the most right now. Mrs. Wahler, please consider longer days and shorter breaks starting January for year 12.

  3. Anonymous says:

    This is a clear display of ignorance by person or persons unknown. Most likely children who desperately need an education and some parenting as well. Shame on all those involved. Community service is clearly in order and no exceptions.

  4. Anonymous says:

    I agree that this is not only a lack of respect but also disheartening.

    I also agree that those involved should be made to do community work and honestly a week, in my opinion, is too little time.

    Gone are the days when our citizens respectedothers, the property of others and the laws of these islands.

    This is truly a shame.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Not only should whoever is involved be held accountable but if they are under age then their parents should be made to foot the repair bill

  6. Anonymous says:

    This is shocking.  After all the help they have received to get this school back to normal – no respect what so ever.  I hope the get caugt soon.  Hang in there all the good people on the Brac.

  7. Anonymous says:

    This is such disheartening and devastating news! At at time like this when we are all struggling so hard to get back to some sense of normalcy. I pray to God that the FOOLS involved in this are caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law! I don’t care who they are! And they should be made to pay for all the damage they have caused and put to build back what ever they have destroyed! This is a senseless act and I hope the vandals are caught and justly punished.  The devil is always working his evil, and it seems that he’s everywhere working twice as hard to ruin everyone’s Christmas this year! I pray to GOD that he will help us to keep the devil at bay and let there be no more pain, suffering or sorrow brought to the people of the Cayman Islands for the rest of the Christmas season…

  8. Anonymous says:

    What! This  is unbelievable  who could be so sick!

    My Suggestion when the Police find out who did this act, Put them to work 7 days  a week from 7 am to 7 pm  without pay  to  repair their damage . That I consider  should be  their punishment. Please ! Please! do not FINE Them Money or Bring Them down here to Northward Prison aka The Hotel.

     

    "People like these individuals have to learn that there is a price to pay for acts like these!!"

    And to whoever seems to think this is to RASH  a  punishment !!!!!Please remember who is Paying for IT.

    US the ones that work, because these  culprits, Have to much time on their Hands and Don’t WORK!!!!

    To You the one’s who did this Act ! Shame on You.