Annandale school mystery illness:
Students stay away
Samantha Sheowpersaud - one of the students allegedly affected by the mystery illness.
CLASSROOMS at the Annandale Secondary School, East Coast Demerara remained empty yesterday as students stayed away, still fearful of the alleged mystery illness which broke out during the latter part of last week, with several students being hospitalised.

The headmistress of the school said there was a full turnout of teachers as the education authorities had ordered a full resumption of classes from yesterday.

But students did not turn up for classes and some parents staged a protest demanding the dismantling of a new snackette which opened for business in the school compound last week, claiming it was, somehow, behind the mystery illness.

EMPTY CLASSROOMS: The desolate Annandale Secondary School yesterday as students stayed away once more, fearful of the mystery illness. (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)

The 12 students, who were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) last week following the mystery illness, were examined and sent home as doctors said nothing was medically wrong with them.
SCHOOL PROTEST: Protesting parents of students affected by the mystery illness demanding the closure of a canteen constructed next to the school.
Parents of the affected children yesterday claimed the “spirits of dead Dutch men” are the source of the mystery illness because the snackette was built on their graves and some mounted a picketing exercise at the Regional Education Office demanding the demolishing of the canteen
Shortly after the picketing began, Regional Education Officer, Ms. Dudmattie Singh, met the protesting parents, but details of the meeting were not forthcoming as several efforts to get a response from the official proved futile.

The mothers of two of the students, Samantha Sheowpersaud and Parbattie Motilall, who are allegedly affected by the mystery illness, said their daughters are still nervous, weak and have a loss of appetite.

However, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mr. Phulander Kandhai told this newspaper the ministry is very concerned about the issue and took all possible measures to ensure the students were medically examined.

He said the ministry had expected a full resumption of classes from yesterday. The school was shut Thursday and remained closed Friday as the ministry and officials from the Health Ministry and the Police probed the mystery.

Kandhai yesterday suggested it could be a case of “group hysteria” and is appealing to parents and all concerned to act responsibly in the interest of the students and the school.

Asked what would be the next step if students continued to stay away, the Permanent Secretary said “we will cross the bridge when we meet it.” (CHAMANLALL NAIPAUL)

Tuesday, November 28, 2006