The Ministry of Home Affairs has condemned the racial attack on several students at the Woodley Park Secondary School in West Coast Berbice.  The incident reportedly took place last Friday.

In was Opposition Parliamentarians Vinceroy Jordan and Natasha Singh-Lewis who issued a statement detailing what transpired at the school.

In the statement, the Opposition MPs said Afro-Guyanese children were verbally and physically attacked at the school.

 In a video recording of the attack, persons were seen armed with pieces of wood walking around the compound of the school as parents and teachers confronted the intruders in the presence of students. One man declared that Afro–Guyanese students should not be welcomed at the school.

The Opposition had expressed its anger over the situation saying that the non-action of the Regional Education Department and the Police left more questions than answers.

“We vehemently condemn the actions of some residents of Woodley Park, West Coast Berbice, that is, assault causing bodily harm and emotional abuse to our students in school at Woodley Park Secondary School and causing public terror in the community.  The non-action of the PPP/C administration and the police is sending the wrong signal and might very well encourage the further terrorizing of the affected children and embolden the aggressors. It should also be noted that the act of terrorizing one ethnic group will exacerbate racial tension and does not augur well for ethnic unity,” the Opposition said in statement.

In a separate statement, the Home Affairs Ministry confirmed the incident and said that an investigation into the matter has been launched.

The Home Affairs Ministry said the headteacher and students were engaged by the police, and based on the information receive, an adult and a child were contacted.

The Ministry said the Police has already started an investigation into the matter, and one person is currently in custody.

“The Ministry of Home Affairs condemns in the strongest possible terms any or all occurrence of racially motivated attacks, particularly on our schoolchildren,” the Home Affairs Ministry said.

The Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand has condemned the attack at the school. She said a full investigation is being carried out by the Police with support from the Education Department.

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