By Chantalé Fletcher
THE Carapichaima West Secondary School remained closed on Friday to facilitate spraying by the Insect Vector Control Unit of the Ministry of Health for mosquitoes.
Minister of Education Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly said, “… the spraying exercise, was the adjacent building that is currently under construction.”
She was responding to Couva North MP Ravi Ratiram’s question on Friday in Parliament on the infestation of mosquitoes at the school.
Dr Gadsby-Dolly said, “The spraying was completed this morning (Friday) and there will be regular school on July 1, 2024.”
She said Carapichaima West Secondary experienced a higher than normal occurrence of mosquitoes in late June 2024.
“During that time, the Form two students were sitting an external examination, the (Primary School Leaving Certificate Exam) on June 26 and 27, 2024. All students were accommodated under normal examination conditions with external examiners,” she added.
Dr Gadsby-Dolly said, “To date, there are no confirmed reports of any teacher contracting dengue fever.”
However when MP Ratiram asked whether spraying was extended to nearby residents, Speaker of the House Representatives Bridgid Annisette-George did not allow it as a supplemental question.
On his second attempt, on whether the Ministry of Education had plans to improve general infrastructure and sanitation at the school to prevent issues in the future, she also ruled his question out of order.
