It was in the year 2008, some 16yrs ago, when a 9yr old indigenous child, Tanesha De Souza, died after she tragically fell into a pit latrine at the Santa Rosa Primary School. However, considering this was an embarrassing tragedy for the nation, the thought was, PPP would’ve learnt lessons with the view to prevent a recurrence. But PPP from their own inaction proved, they haven’t learnt lessons or as a matter of fact, is incapable of learning lessons. Thus, with such a disinclination, the obvious conclusion arrived at is, PPP would rather have our Indigenous children sit on these 18th century pit latrines, which are effectively miasmic deathtraps.
And the then Education Minister Shaik Baksh, said as much, when he informed, his Ministry wasn’t intending to phase out these deadly pit latrines, since internationally they’re recognised as proper means of sanitation disposal. But with the masses rebutting his most asinine argument, Shaik Baksh then proffered, his Ministry would eventually work, at a significant financial cost, on phasing out these deadly pit latrines from Indigenous schools. However, despite his attempted clarification, his statement nonetheless reflected PPP policy position, that deadly pit latrines are acceptable for our Indigenous children. As a result, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that in 2024, some 16yrs after Tanesha De Souza tragically died in a pit latrine, that PPP devaluing the lives of our Indigenous children, would compel them to sit on these miasmic deathtraps.
Having said that, some 16yrs later, we as an oil economy shouldn’t be having a debate on these Hinterland schools’ deadly pit latrines. However, the fact we are still having a debate, even as this situation uniquely affects Indigenous Communities, points to the painful reality of yet another case of PPP systemic discrimination.
In fact, having been reassured in 2008 that these deadly pit latrines would’ve been phased out, it’s most shocking in 2024, some 16yrs later, that there are still 77 deadly pit latrines in our Hinterland schools. Thus, with the countrywide infrastructure development PPP boast of, the questions that need answering are, why such developments aren’t extended to our Indigenous communities? That is, why in the 21st century, in an oil rich economy, should our Indigenous children be forced to sit on these miasmic deathtraps.
The fact is, with one Indigenous child having catastrophically died in these miasmic deathtraps, we cannot help but reflect on the fiery tragedy, where 20 Indigenous children died in a grilled dormitory inferno. In fact, even before these 20 children perished in that inferno, PPP had multiple forewarnings, inclusive of four schools which were reduced to smouldering ashes. Thus, the enquiries that need to be made and hopefully answered by PPP are, with one Indigenous child having catastrophically died in a deadly pit latrine, how many more deaths are required before they take action? As a matter of fact, with one child having catastrophically died in these deadly pit latrines, why continue to risk the lives of some 5000 children, including vulnerable toddlers, with these miasmic deathtraps?
In fact, these findings of 77 Hinterland Schools having deadly pit latrines, was only unearth by an AFC investigation, which triggered a belated Education Ministry survey. And with the “MOE Information on Sanitary Facilities/Latrines” survey completed, the first made privy was the installed Education Minister, Priya Manickchand.
However, recognising the findings would expose another, in a litany of PPP blatant discrimination against our Indigenous people, Priya Manickchand flatly refused to release said findings. But it was the AFC, who initially raised concerns on the Phillipai Primary having deadly pit latrine, that exposed the findings from this survey. Therefore, the conclusion arrived at is, PPP stands reluctant to release these findings, since they forever want to have our Indigenous People in states of underdevelopment. Moreover, the very fact PPP is refusing to release these findings, point to their policy of having our Indigenous People forever stuck in the 18th century, of deadly pit latrines.
