By Mark DaCosta- The dire situation at St. Ninian’s Primary School in Region 1 is emblematic of the broader myriad of challenges faced by Indigenous communities across our nation. Following persistent neglect and a failure of governmental services, the troubling realities confronting schools like St. Ninian’s and Micobie Primary exemplify not just a lack of basic amenities, but an alarming disregard for the rights of Indigenous children who deserve quality education and safe learning environments.
St. Ninian’s Primary, currently hosting 93 students, has faced a series of profound challenges that have largely gone unaddressed. The absence of running water has led to unsanitary conditions, forcing both staff and students to fetch water from a nearby pond for flushing toilets — a situation so dire it has sometimes necessitated the closure of the school by midday.
These conditions not only compromise sanitation but also impact the vital hot meal programme aimed at nourishing the students’ bodies, and by extension, their minds. Furthermore, the school’s facilities are in a state of disrepair, with students’ washrooms requiring urgent attention. Adding to the distress, teachers endure unsafe living conditions in housing devoid of functioning washrooms, while bat infestations further compromise their well-being.
In a similar vein, the crisis in Micobie, Region 8, exacerbates the same narrative of neglect. With over 240 students now devoid of educational opportunities due to the total closure of schools caused by a catastrophic water shortage, the situation remains dire. Teachers have been left with no option but to trudge nearly 1,000 feet to draw water from the Potaro River — a dangerous task that starkly highlights the insidious neglect faced by these communities. While young learners grapple with the inability to practice basic hygiene, the lack of water has led to the suspension of the school feeding programme, leaving many children hungry and further hampered in their educational pursuits.
Voices of concern have been raised, with Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed bringing the plight of Indigenous children to the forefront of public discourse. His commitment to amplifying their cries for help reflects the frustrations of countless residents whose pleas seem to have fallen on deaf ears. Under the auspices of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), the inaction surrounding vital issues like clean water access raises serious questions about whether the current administration views Indigenous peoples and hinterland children as equals deserving of basic human rights and governmental attention.
This troubling trend of oversight, particularly towards Indigenous populations, signals a chronic failure in our nation’s approach to inclusive governance. Despite professed commitments to enhance living conditions and educational opportunities for these historically marginalised communities, the stark reality tells a different story. The enduring lack of basic infrastructure — specifically access to clean water — perpetuates a cycle of poverty and disenfranchisement that has plagued Indigenous communities for generations.
The current government’s inability or unwillingness to provide timely interventions in places like Micobie underscores a growing alienation among Indigenous communities, who increasingly feel that their rights and needs are overshadowed by political posturing. It is frankly unacceptable.
In expressing our gratitude to Azruddin Mohamed and his party for shedding light on these vital issues, we recognise the crucial role that public pressure must play in forcing governmental accountability. The voices of Micobie and St. Ninian’s must be heard, and their needs prioritised to ensure that future generations of Indigenous children can receive the education they rightfully deserve. Only through unity and persistence in the face of governmental indifference can we hope to foster genuine change and improve the living conditions of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens. The future of these children hangs precariously in the balance, and immediate action is imperative.
