People should not jump to conclusions after what Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS) Rodolphe Samuel said in Wednesday’s press briefing about his talks with Foundation Catholic Education St. Maarten SKOS regarding apparent inappropriate conduct against a student by the former interim principal at St. Dominic High School. He mentioned having left this meeting under the impression they would still file a complaint, only to be contacted later with a message that current law does not require them to do so.
The minister said he had duly informed the school board that relevant legislation was being worked on and complying from now is possible too, without success. When this news first broke, SKOS had assured no form of harassment took place during the past school year, but local media reports told a different story.
At the time, Samuel had announced his intention to meet with the school’s board, while Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs added that Justice Minister Anna Richardson was doing her due diligence to see that any allegations are followed up on. She also cautioned over the way these were being discussed publicly.
SKOS may have several reasons for preferring not to file a complaint, which could even involve the young victim and her parents wanting to end the drama. That would be understandable from an individual and personal perspective, even though perhaps not in the best general interest.
After all, if true it could mean that, left unpunished, the culprit might very well do the same to someone else again. Recent court cases involving sexual abuse of youngsters shows what such unchecked behaviour might ultimately lead to.
The issue also makes this afternoon’s urgent plenary session of Parliament especially interesting. Agenda points are “Insight and discussion into the role and authority of the Ministry of Education with regard to the religious and other alternative school boards on St. Maarten” and “Process regarding reporting of incidents involving school authority figures and students to the Ministry of ECYS.”
However, at the end of the day, authorities can also choose to launch an investigation on their own, which – as she herself stressed – is not for Justice Minister Richardson to decide. This indeed concerns a sensitive matter, but one not to be ignored and that must be addressed – in the most discreet way possible – to help prevent similar situations going forward.
